This article is more than 6 years old

This article is more than 6 years old

A graphic YouTube video showing what appears to be Fijian fishermen being shot and killed at sea is being investigated by the south Pacific country’s police.



The four men clinging to an upturned boat and debris appear to have been shot from close range and left floating in the ocean. Onlookers on board one of the attacking boats, which could be a tuna fishing vessel, appear to do nothing to stop it.

Another shot from the footage. Image: YouTube

They are heard laughing and are shown smiling at the camera at the end of the 10-minute amateur video. Fiji police are reportedly appealing to Interpol for help to verify details of the footage.

The country’s assistant police commissioner Rusiate Tudravu told the ABC’s Radio Australia network it was too early to make a statement. “We have not received any formal complaints and I have not yet seen the video,” he said.

It had still to be verified whether the men being shot were Fijian. The video was posted on YouTube on Monday but it is not clear when it was recorded.

User “commonkingssavou” describes the footage as “Fishing vessel fijian crew gettin shot, out side fiji waters”.

It has been viewed more than 20,000 times, despite YouTube imposing age-restricted access.

In one shot, the insignia of one of the attacking boats can be seen. Distorted images of flags on the vessels appear to be from Asian countries.

The men are left floating in the ocean. Image: YouTube

A YouTube spokesman said the company did not comment on individual videos. The service’s guidelines generally prohibited graphic or violent content, he said, but YouTube did make exceptions for material “with clear documentary or news value”.

“In cases where a video is not suitable for all viewers, we take care to apply appropriate warnings and age restrictions to safeguard people using our site.”