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| Royal Marines detain oil tanker on way to Syria | Royal Marines detain oil tanker on way to Syria |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Royal Marines have boarded an oil tanker on its way to Syria thought to be breaching EU sanctions, the government of Gibraltar has said. | Royal Marines have boarded an oil tanker on its way to Syria thought to be breaching EU sanctions, the government of Gibraltar has said. |
| Authorities said there was reason to believe the ship, called the Grace 1, was carrying crude oil to the Banias Refinery in Syria. | |
| The refinery is subject to European Union sanctions against Syria, the chief minister of the government said. | The refinery is subject to European Union sanctions against Syria, the chief minister of the government said. |
| Fabian Picardo commended the bravery of the marines who detained the ship. | Fabian Picardo commended the bravery of the marines who detained the ship. |
| "Be assured that Gibraltar remains safe, secure and committed to the international, rules-based, legal order," he said, thanking the police, customs and port authorities for their involvement in detaining the ship. | |
| 'Firm action' praised | |
| Gibraltar port and law enforcement agencies detained the super tanker and its cargo on Wednesday morning with the help of the marines. | |
| Mr Picardo said he had written to the presidents of the European Commission and European Council to give details of the sanctions that have been enforced. | |
| The EU Syrian Sanctions Regime, established in May 2011, comprises financial, trade and transport sanctions. | |
| The sanctions restrict the Syrian economy in response to violent repression of civilians by the country's government. | |
| The Ministry of Defence said it welcomed the "firm action" by the Gibraltarian authorities. |