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Probe into Iran navy crew capture Probe into Iran navy crew capture
(about 2 hours later)
The Royal Navy has began a wide-ranging review into the circumstances leading to the capture of 15 of its personnel by Iran. The Royal Navy has began a review of the circumstances leading to the capture of 15 of its personnel by Iran.
Rules of engagement, equipment and procedures will all be analysed, the Ministry of Defence confirmed. Rules of engagement, equipment and procedures will all be analysed, the Ministry of Defence said.
Shadow Defence Secretary Liam Fox said there were many unanswered questions about how the crew were seized.Shadow Defence Secretary Liam Fox said there were many unanswered questions about how the crew were seized.
It was also reported that the navy has stopped boarding ships in the northern Gulf pending further inquiries. The 15 arrived in the UK on Thursday after being held in Iran for 13 days. Iran claimed they had strayed into its waters, which the UK denied.
BBC Radio 4's The World Tonight said the 15 sailors and marines were the only two crews responsible for boarding and inspecting vessels in the Shatt al-Arab waterway. An MoD spokesman said coalition boarding operations had continued as normal in the Gulf, despite the loss of the two British boats used by the 15 sailors and marines.
Mr Fox told the programme it seemed Iran had driven Britain out of its waters, but insisted the security activities should resume.
Crew members were reunited with their families at a military baseCrew members were reunited with their families at a military base
"This is an essential part of what we do," he said. He added that the UK would continue to ask Iran to return its two captured boats, but he held out little hope of success.
The MoD said boarding operations in the Gulf were "temporarily suspended". The freed personnel were helicoptered to the Royal Marines Base at Chivenor in north Devon on Thursday, after arriving on a British Airways plane at Heathrow in London.
But a spokesman said efforts were under way to restart them and it was possible that the 15 captured personnel might return to their previous duties. Earlier, they spoke of their happiness at being back in the UK and reunited with relatives.
And, he added, the UK would continue to ask Iran to return its two captured boats, but said the MoD held out little hope of success.
Meanwhile, the navy said it was carrying out a "wide-ranging lessons-learned process" to assess what had happened.
Solitary confinement
The freed personnel were expected to begin their debrief on Thursday night at Royal Marines Barracks Chivenor in Devon.
Earlier, they spoke of their happiness at being back in the UK and reunited with relatives after 13 days in custody.
CAPTURED NAVY PERSONNEL Chris Air, 25, from Altrincham in CheshireMark Banks, 24, of Lowestoft, SuffolkPaul Barton, of Southport, MerseysideArthur Batchelor, 20, of PlymouthFelix Carman, 26, of SwanseaGavin CavendishChristopher Coe, 31, of HuddersfieldDean Harris, 24, of Carmarthen, west WalesAndrew HendersonSimon MasseyDanny Masterton, 26, of Muirkirk, AyrshireAdam Sperry, 22, of Wigston, near LeicesterNathan Summers, of Hayle, CornwallJoe Tindell, 21, of south LondonFaye Turney, 26, originally from Shropshire Profiles of navy personnel Two versions of eventsCAPTURED NAVY PERSONNEL Chris Air, 25, from Altrincham in CheshireMark Banks, 24, of Lowestoft, SuffolkPaul Barton, of Southport, MerseysideArthur Batchelor, 20, of PlymouthFelix Carman, 26, of SwanseaGavin CavendishChristopher Coe, 31, of HuddersfieldDean Harris, 24, of Carmarthen, west WalesAndrew HendersonSimon MasseyDanny Masterton, 26, of Muirkirk, AyrshireAdam Sperry, 22, of Wigston, near LeicesterNathan Summers, of Hayle, CornwallJoe Tindell, 21, of south LondonFaye Turney, 26, originally from Shropshire Profiles of navy personnel Two versions of events
While in Iran, several said they had been well treated, but since their return there have been suggestions from a relative that one of them may have been held in solitary confinement. Several said they had been well treated while in Iran, but since their return there have been suggestions some may have been held in solitary confinement.
Lt Col Andy Price said there had been "times when they were left alone", but refused to go into further detail.Lt Col Andy Price said there had been "times when they were left alone", but refused to go into further detail.
Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Sir Jock Stirrup, said: "They did exactly as they should have done from start to finish... and we're extremely proud of them."Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Sir Jock Stirrup, said: "They did exactly as they should have done from start to finish... and we're extremely proud of them."
The crew travelled first class on a British Airways flight from Tehran to Heathrow, before flying by helicopter to meet their families in Devon.
Penny Banks, who was reunited with her son, Lance Corporal Mark Banks, said: "We are delighted to have him back - it was nice to hold him again."Penny Banks, who was reunited with her son, Lance Corporal Mark Banks, said: "We are delighted to have him back - it was nice to hold him again."
'No deal''No deal'
In a press conference outside Downing Street, Tony Blair said he was "glad" the crew had been returned "safe and unharmed".In a press conference outside Downing Street, Tony Blair said he was "glad" the crew had been returned "safe and unharmed".
He said "no deal" had been done with the Iranians to secure their release, despite claims by Iran that it received a written apology from Britain on Tuesday.He said "no deal" had been done with the Iranians to secure their release, despite claims by Iran that it received a written apology from Britain on Tuesday.
And he contrasted the safe return of the Britons with four soldiers killed in Basra in Iraq on the same day.
The US welcomed Iran's decision to free the servicemen, but said the positive move would not ease tensions over its nuclear programme.The US welcomed Iran's decision to free the servicemen, but said the positive move would not ease tensions over its nuclear programme.
HAVE YOUR SAY The UK government and its forces have been made to look like total fools Bob, Dundee Send us your commentsHAVE YOUR SAY The UK government and its forces have been made to look like total fools Bob, Dundee Send us your comments
Iran accused the crew of straying into its waters, although the British have insisted throughout that they were in Iraqi territory. It emerged on Thursday that in a television interview recorded before their capture, one of the crew members, Capt Chris Air, had said one purpose of patrols in the area was to gather intelligence on "any sort of Iranian activity".
It has been suggested that the risk to British personnel was higher on the day they were seized - 23 March - because the government was pushing through a UN resolution imposing sanctions on Iran just 24 hours later. In the joint Five News and Sky News interview, recorded on 13 March but not broadcast until after the 15 had been released, he acknowledged that he was operating close to the buffer zone between Iranian and Iraqi waters, adding: "It's good to gather int on the Iranians."
It emerged on Thursday that in a television interview recorded before their capture, Capt Chris Air said one purpose of patrols in the area was to gather intelligence on any sort of Iranian activity. The MoD said this was "all part of modern operations".
The MoD said this was "entirely appropriate" and "all part of modern operations".
British soldiers in southern Iraq were reportedly told earlier this year to use "maximum force" to avoid being captured while on patrol.
It is not known whether naval personnel were given the same instructions.