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Protester says whalers shot him Protester says whalers shot him
(about 2 hours later)
An anti-whaling campaigner says he has been shot by Japanese sailors while protesting over their hunting activities in the Antarctic.An anti-whaling campaigner says he has been shot by Japanese sailors while protesting over their hunting activities in the Antarctic.
Paul Watson, of the Sea Shepherd group, said his colleagues had been throwing stink bombs, but the Japanese responded with "flash grenades" and gunfire.Paul Watson, of the Sea Shepherd group, said his colleagues had been throwing stink bombs, but the Japanese responded with "flash grenades" and gunfire.
He said he felt a thud in his chest and found a bullet in his Kevlar vest.He said he felt a thud in his chest and found a bullet in his Kevlar vest.
But Tokyo denied any bullets had been fired, saying "warning devices" were thrown after their ship was attacked.But Tokyo denied any bullets had been fired, saying "warning devices" were thrown after their ship was attacked.
The foreign ministry said the Japanese coastguard on board the Nisshin Maru ship had thrown a baseball-sized device, which exploded near the activists' ship emitting a loud noise.The foreign ministry said the Japanese coastguard on board the Nisshin Maru ship had thrown a baseball-sized device, which exploded near the activists' ship emitting a loud noise.
The device was not designed to hurt people, and the ministry said it was not aware of any injuries.The device was not designed to hurt people, and the ministry said it was not aware of any injuries.
'Aimed at us''Aimed at us'
Mr Watson told Australian radio that he found a bullet in his Kevlar vest.Mr Watson told Australian radio that he found a bullet in his Kevlar vest.
"It bruised my shoulder but it would have hit my heart if I didn't have the vest," he said."It bruised my shoulder but it would have hit my heart if I didn't have the vest," he said.
Mr Watson is captain of the Sea Shepherd vessel, the Steve IrwinMr Watson is captain of the Sea Shepherd vessel, the Steve Irwin
He told Australia's ABC News that there was no justification for the whalers opening fire.He told Australia's ABC News that there was no justification for the whalers opening fire.
"We were doing what we usually do, which is putting stink bombs on deck," he said."We were doing what we usually do, which is putting stink bombs on deck," he said.
"We go out of our way to make sure we don't throw them near anybody, but they were throwing the flash grenades directly at us.""We go out of our way to make sure we don't throw them near anybody, but they were throwing the flash grenades directly at us."
Australia is one of the most vehement anti-whaling countries. Canberra had declared a whale sanctuary in the Southern Ocean, but Japan refused to recognise Australia's claims over the area.
Japan had planned to kill up to 900 minke whales and 50 fin whales during the expedition.Japan had planned to kill up to 900 minke whales and 50 fin whales during the expedition.
Tokyo says it carries out whaling for scientific research, but critics say the same data can be collected without killing the animals.Tokyo says it carries out whaling for scientific research, but critics say the same data can be collected without killing the animals.