Six Italian police and coastguard officials are on trial in Crotone for their response to a 2023 migrant shipwreck that killed at least 94 people, including 35 children. The defendants face charges of involuntary manslaughter and “culpable shipwreck” due to alleged failures in communication and a delayed rescue response. The overcrowded boat, carrying migrants from Afghanistan, Iran, Pakistan, and Syria, capsized after being tracked for hours off the southern coast of Italy. A Frontex aircraft had alerted Italian authorities, but the Guardia di Finanza aborted the rescue mission due to harsh weather conditions.
The trial has sparked criticism of Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s hardline stance on migration, with charities arguing her government prioritizes law enforcement over humanitarian aid. Human Rights Watch suggests the tragedy stems from broader state policies criminalizing asylum seekers. The International Organization for Migration notes that the Central Mediterranean remains one of the deadliest migration routes, with at least 1,340 deaths reported in 2025.
