A security source from Tobruk naval base confirmed to Alwasat that 500 illegal migrants had been arrested off the coast of the city in the east of Libya.

The source explained that the migrants were on a large boat carrying 400 Egyptians and 100 Syrians.

The source also confirmed that the boat was towed "by force" to the port of Tobruk, where the migrants were disembarked, interrogated and referred to a shelter managed by the Anti-illegal Immigration Department in the region.