UK soldiers used 'brute force' when they detained Iranian ship: Indian captain

Indian captain of an Iranian ship that was seized by Royal Marines earlier this month has said that British soldiers used "brute force" when y detained his ship, according to a media report on Tuesday.

Grace 1 tanker was detained by Gibraltar authorities with help of Royal Marines on July 4 on suspicion that it was ferrying a cargo of more than 2 million barrels of crude oil to Syria in breach of European Union sanctions.

master and chief officer of ship, both Indian nationals, were held in relation to breaches of European Union Regulations 36/2012, concerning restrictive measures in view of situation in Syria.

y were later granted "police bail with conditions". captain, an Indian national who asked t to be named, told BBC that British soldiers forced his unarmed crew to kneel on deck at gunpoint after landing on ship in a helicopter.

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He said he was rioed a police request to board his ship and lowered his lder. But before anyone could board, a military helicopter landed on ship in a "very dangerous" move. He told BBC that he identified himself as captain but marines igred him and inste pointed ir guns and shouted "look forward, look forward".

"re were  regulations, we h 28 unarmed crew. I was in a state of shock, everybody was in a state of shock," he was quoted as saying.

"How do you come on a ship like this with armed forces and such brute force. For what reason?" he said.

captain said marines could have boarded ship and simply told him he h been arrested. He told BBC that he and his crew h been vised by Indian High Commission officials to remain anymous while legal proceedings are on-going.

Asked wher he felt re was anything illegitimate about his ship or cargo, he said he h "followed company procedures" and he did t kw about EU sanctions against Syria.

Ministry of Defence (MoD) said seizure complied with "international rules and rms".It said operation on Grace 1 was a "standard boarding" and that British armed forces were "held to highest standards of professionalism".

Royal Gibraltar Police said marines h acted in support of its officers and applied " minimum use of force" to ensure officers could get on board, deal with crew and take control of vessel. It ded that ship's four senior officers h been interviewed under caution.

Gibraltar government said it h evidence which contricted statements me by captain and would release its own statement soon. seizure of oil tanker sparked a diplomatic crisis between UK and Iran, which has escalated since n.

Iran blames US for arranging to have its ship seized in wake of sanctions imposed against Tehran with aim of halting all its oil exports. European countries do t have sanctions against Iran but have h m in place against Iran's ally Syria since 2011. 

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