UK Police Say Took Control Of Italian Cargo Vessel Hijacked By Migrants

Faizan Hashmi Published December 22, 2018 | 05:54 AM

MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 22nd December, 2018) The UK police said they have captured an Italian vessel hijacked by migrants off the coast of the Kent county, adding that the four stowaways had been detained.

"We have now secured a vessel in the Thames Estuary. The vessel was boarded and secured shortly after 11pm [23:00 GMT] on Friday, December 21 and will now be brought safely into dock at the Port of Tilbury.

Four men have been detained under the Immigration Act ... No one on board the vessel has been injured," Essex Police said in a statement, published on Twitter.

The migrants attempted to take control of the 70,000-tonne Grande Tema cargo ship on Friday after the crew found them on board as the vessel was going from Nigeria to the Port of Tilbury. The stowaways threatened the crew with iron bars and knives.

Media reported late on Friday, that the UK special forces were preparing to storm the vessel.