Italian frigate Bersagliere nearly hit by unidentified missile during a patrol Libyan coast 0308114

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Defense News - Italy
 
 
Wednesday, August 3, 2011, 06:45 PM
 
Italian frigate Bersagliere nearly hit by unidentified missile during a patrol on the Libyan coast.
An unidentified missile fell Wednesday into the seawater not far from an Italian frigate patrolling the Libyan coast, according to local media reports.
     

An unidentified missile fell Wednesday into the seawater not far from an Italian frigate patrolling the Libyan coast, according to local media reports.
MM Bersagliere (F-584) Multi-role missile frigate Italian Navy (Archive image)
     

The Bersagliere, an Italian missile-equipped patrol frigate, was about 12 miles off the Libyan coast when its radar detected a missile which crashed into the seawater about 2 km from its stern.

No damages or casualties were reported from the attack yet. Meanwhile, the ship has gone further away from the Libyan coast as a precautionary measure.

Italian Defense Minister Ignazio La Russa was quoted by local media as saying that it is still unclear whether it was a Libyan missile.

Further examination based on radar data would determine whether the missile was launched directly against the frigate.

Italy is part of the NATO-led coalition against Colonel Muammar Gaddafi's government.