Isle of Wight: 'Military assistance' sought over tanker stowaways

[papasmurf]

https://twitter.com/ukhomeoffice/status/1320459821133475840
Some comments are quite amusing.

I can't access that.

[Javert]

https://twitter.com/ukhomeoffice/status/1320459821133475840
Some comments are quite amusing.

Yes well actually this is a good point - the people who were detained will be brought back to the UK, where they can make an asylum request, even while they are charged with criminal offences.

If they are true and real refugees, they may be granted leave to remain in this country even if they also have to do a prison sentence for what they did on the tanker.

From that perspective, if the goal of the stowaways was to get into the UK by any available means and then put in an asylum request, they have succeeded.

On the other hand if they are economic migrants they will be deported, assuming their home country agrees to take them back.

[Barry]

https://twitter.com/ukhomeoffice/status/1320459821133475840
Some comments are quite amusing.

[Nick]

The very large exclusion limit suggests that there is a terror threat or similar threat to destroy the tanker

Took the special forces 9 minutes to sort them out. Would be at least 20 come 31st Dec 😉.

[papasmurf]

Well that didn't take long:-

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-hampshire-54684440

Isle of Wight tanker stowaways: Seven suspects detained
Published9 minutes ago

Seven suspects have been detained on board a tanker situated off the Isle of Wight.

UK special forces were involved in dealing with the incident on board the crude oil tanker, which had a number of stowaways on board.

The operation on board the Liberian-registered Nave Andromeda involved six helicopters and a Special Boat Service team, the BBC understands.

Military assistance had been requested after the stowaways became violent.

BBC defence correspondent Jonathan Beale said the individuals were detained after they were met with "overwhelming force".

[papasmurf]

The very large exclusion limit suggests that there is a terror threat or similar threat to destroy the tanker

Two lifeboats on service in the area.

[Barry]

The very large exclusion limit suggests that there is a terror threat or similar threat to destroy the tanker

[papasmurf]

I am watching this news item with interest. Given how close the SBS HQ is to the tanker I suspect they have been "on the case" well before this news item.

More at link:-

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-hampshire-54684440

Isle of Wight: 'Military assistance' sought over tanker stowaways
Published6 minutes ago

Military assistance has been requested over an "ongoing incident" on board an oil tanker situated off the Isle of Wight, the BBC understands.

The crude oil tanker, the Liberian-registered Nave Andromeda, is known to have stowaways on board and was due to dock in Southampton earlier.

Richard Meade, editor of shipping news journal Lloyd's List, said there were thought to be seven stowaways on board.

He said it was believed they had become violent towards the crew.