435 migrants intercepted and returned to Libya in one week

A total of 435 migrants were returned to Libya during the past week from April 26 to May 2 after being intercepted at sea while attempting to reach European shores, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) said Monday.



The organization said the migrants were disembarked in several coastal cities upon their return, but did not provide details on their nationalities or ages.



The interceptions highlight ongoing attempts at irregular migration along the Central Mediterranean route, one of the world's most dangerous migration paths. International organizations have repeatedly warned of the risks migrants face during these journeys.



Since the start of 2026, a total of 5,630 migrants have been intercepted and returned to Libya, while 819 have been reported dead or missing on the Central Mediterranean route as of May 2, the IOM said