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| Thames Estuary ship's crew locked in bridge amid 'threats from stowaways' | Thames Estuary ship's crew locked in bridge amid 'threats from stowaways' |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Four stowaways found on a cargo ship in the Thames Estuary threatened its crew and demanded to be taken to the coast. | Four stowaways found on a cargo ship in the Thames Estuary threatened its crew and demanded to be taken to the coast. |
| The Grande Tema's crew have had to lock themselves in the vessel's bridge for safety, a spokesman said. | The Grande Tema's crew have had to lock themselves in the vessel's bridge for safety, a spokesman said. |
| Essex Police was called at 09:15 GMT but said the situation was not being treated as a hostage, piracy or terror-related issue. | Essex Police was called at 09:15 GMT but said the situation was not being treated as a hostage, piracy or terror-related issue. |
| A force spokesman said officers were working with partners "to resolve this incident as quickly as possible". | A force spokesman said officers were working with partners "to resolve this incident as quickly as possible". |
| The 71,000-tonne ship, due to dock at Tilbury, has been holding position in the Thames Estuary since 11:00. It had set off from Lagos, Nigeria, on 10 December. | |
| Grimaldi Group, which owns the vessel, said the four stowaways were discovered on board four days ago. | Grimaldi Group, which owns the vessel, said the four stowaways were discovered on board four days ago. |
| They were put under surveillance in a cabin but escaped earlier and made threats to the ship's master as the vessel approached Tilbury, urging him to get close to the coast. | They were put under surveillance in a cabin but escaped earlier and made threats to the ship's master as the vessel approached Tilbury, urging him to get close to the coast. |
| Grimaldi spokesman Paul Kyprianou said: "The vessel was coming from Nigeria and was bound to Tilbury and those four stowaways were in the cabin. | Grimaldi spokesman Paul Kyprianou said: "The vessel was coming from Nigeria and was bound to Tilbury and those four stowaways were in the cabin. |
| "Today they managed to escape from the cabin and they started threatening the crew, requesting the master of the vessel [navigate] very close to the coast. | "Today they managed to escape from the cabin and they started threatening the crew, requesting the master of the vessel [navigate] very close to the coast. |
| "That request was probably because they wanted to jump and reach the British coast." | "That request was probably because they wanted to jump and reach the British coast." |
| He said the crew had locked themselves in the command area of the vessel and were currently safe. | He said the crew had locked themselves in the command area of the vessel and were currently safe. |
| Mr Kyprianou added: "It's a small group but obviously you can understand it would be scary." |