Seven held for bid to hijack oil tanker

London, October 26

Seven stowaways were arrested for hijacking an oil tanker when British naval special forces stormed it in the English Channel, the police said on Monday.

Hampshire Police said the men, believed to be from Nigeria, were being held at several police stations on suspicion of “seizing or exercising control of a ship by use of threats or force.”

They have not been charged. Police said the 22 crew members of the Nave Andromeda were “safe and well” after the raid, which unfolded after darkness fell on Sunday.

Special Boat Service commandos were lowered by rope from helicopters onto the tanker, whose crew had locked themselves in a secure part of the ship known as the citadel.

Within minutes, the stowaways were in custody. Maritime tracking websites showed the ship reached port in Southampton early on Monday. — AP