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UK captives tell of ill treatment UK captives tell of ill treatment
(40 minutes later)
Royal Navy personnel seized by Iran were blindfolded, bound and held in isolation during their 13 days in captivity, the crew have said.Royal Navy personnel seized by Iran were blindfolded, bound and held in isolation during their 13 days in captivity, the crew have said.
They were also subject to random interrogation and rough handling, and faced constant psychological pressure. They were lined up while weapons were cocked, making them "fear the worst", two of the 15 crew revealed.
In a joint statement the crew also stressed that they were inside Iraqi waters at the time of the capture. The crew were told if they did not admit they were in Iranian waters when captured that they faced seven years in prison, a press conference heard.
Royal Marine Captain Chris Air said it became apparent that opposing their captors was "not an option." They said opposing their captors was "not an option."
"If we had, some of us would not be here today, of that I am completely sure," he said. And after their capture the 15 marines and sailors were subjected to random interrogation and rough handling, and faced constant psychological pressure.
"We realised that had we resisted there would have been a major fight, one we could not have won and with consequences major strategic impacts. Royal Marine Captain Chris Air, 25, from Altrincham, Cheshire, explained why they had not fought back when they were confronted by the Iranians while they carried out a routine operation.
"We made a conscious decision not to engage the Iranians and do asthey asked," he said. "If we had, some of us would not be here today, of that I am completely sure."
The crew said they spent nights in stone cells, sleeping on piles of blankets and were kept in isolation until their last few nights. "We realised that had we resisted there would have been a major fight, one we could not have won."
They were also lined up against a wall while weapons were cocked, making them "fear the worst". "We made a conscious decision not to engage the Iranians and do as they asked," he said.
Random interrogation
Two of the crew read out a prepared statement to the press conference at the Royal Marines Barracks at Chivenor, in north Devon.
Lieutenant Felix Carman, 26, of Swansea, south Wales, said the sailors and marines were on an operation on 23 March, 1.7 nautical miles from Iranian waters, when they were captured.
Cpt Chris Air said the crew had made it clear they were on a "routine operation, as allowed under a UN mandate" but that the Iranians had a "planned intent."
"Some of the Iranian sailors were becoming deliberately aggressive and unstable."
He described how their boat was rammed and they were trained with heavy machine guns and weapons.
During their captivity the crew spent nights in stone cells, sleeping on blankets and were kept in isolation until their last few nights.
Actions defendedActions defended
Earlier, the Royal Navy's head defended the actions of the personnel, after criticism that they gave up too easily.Earlier, the Royal Navy's head defended the actions of the personnel, after criticism that they gave up too easily.
First Sea Lord Admiral Sir Jonathon Band said the crew "reacted extremely well in very difficult circumstances".First Sea Lord Admiral Sir Jonathon Band said the crew "reacted extremely well in very difficult circumstances".
He said British boarding operations being carried out in the Gulf had been "absolutely proper", but there would be a "complete review".
The captured personnel appeared on Iranian television admitting they had strayed into Iran's territorial waters, a claim the UK denies.
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
Lt Gen Sir Michael Gray, former commander of the 1st Battalion of the Paras, was quoted in the Daily Mail as describing the situation as a "shambles". The captured personnel appeared on Iranian television admitting they had strayed into Iran's territorial waters, a claim the UK denies.
And Amyas Godfrey, an associate fellow of the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI), previously said the personnel could have stood up to their captors more.
Admiral Band told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "This incident was a most extraordinary act conducted in those waters...Admiral Band told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "This incident was a most extraordinary act conducted in those waters...
"I think they acted with considerable dignity and a lot of courage. "I think they acted with considerable dignity and a lot of courage".
"They appear to have played it by the rules, they don't appear to have put themselves into danger, others into danger, they don't appear to have given anything away".
The personnel have returned to their base at Chivenor in Devon
The navy has begun a review of the circumstances leading to the capture.The navy has begun a review of the circumstances leading to the capture.
'No deal'
Admiral Band said the review would also examine the rules of engagement for UK forces operating in the area.
However, he said the decision to board and search the merchant ship that led to the seizure of the navy personnel had been "absolutely proper".
He said UK boarding operations had stopped for now, but coalition operations were continuing under British command.
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
Earlier, an MoD spokesman said the UK would continue to ask Iran to return its two captured boats used by the 15 crew, but he held out little hope of success.
The freed personnel were flown to the Royal Marine base, at Chivenor, in north Devon, on Thursday.
Lt Col Andy Price, who met the group at the airport, said there had been "times when they were left alone", but refused to elaborate.
Prime Minister Tony Blair contrasted the return unharmed of the Britons with four soldiers killed in Basra in Iraq on the same day.