Italy court lifts house arrest on detained German captain -judicial source

A Sicilian court on Tuesday lifted a house arrest order imposed on the captain of a charity rescue ship, who was detained after she brought dozens of African migrants to Italy in defiance of a naval blockade, a judicial source said. Italian Interior Minister Matteo Salvini said he had hoped for a tougher response from the justice system but promised to expel as soon as possible the captain -- 31-year-old German national Carola Rackete.

Rackete is accused of endangering the lives of four policemen aboard a patrol boat that was squeezed against the quay side as she disobeyed Italian military orders and entered the port of Lampedusa in her Sea-Watch boat early on Saturday. She has denied wrongdoing.