German migrant rescue captain 'free to go'

ROME, July 03 (AFP): An Italian judge said on Tuesday that Sea-Watch 3 captain Carola Rackete was free to go, three days after her arrest for docking with 40 migrants aboard her rescue ship in defiance of an Italian ban.

Rackete was arrested after hitting a police speedboat while entering the port of the southern island of Lampedusa on Saturday in her vessel, which had been banned from docking by Italian authorities.

The move ended a two-week stand-off at sea.

The judge said an Italian security decree was "not applicable in the case of rescues" in the ruling.

"I was relieved about the judge's decision, which I see as a big win for solidarity with all people on the move including refugees, migrants and asylum seekers, and against the criminalisation of helpers in many countries across Europe," Rackete said in a statement from Sea-Watch.

"I was very touched by the solidarity expressed to me by so many people," the German said, and paid tribute to the crew.