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UK captives tell of ill treatment UK captives tell of ill treatment
(30 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 lined up while weapons were cocked, making them "fear the worst", two of the 15 crew revealed. They were lined up while weapons were cocked, making them "fear the worst", one of the 15 freed sailors revealed.
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. The crew were told that if they did not admit they were in Iranian waters when captured that they faced seven years in prison, a press conference heard.
They said opposing their captors was "not an option." Opposing their captors was "not an option," they said.
And after their capture the 15 marines and sailors were subjected to random interrogation and rough handling, and faced constant psychological pressure. And after their capture the 15 marines and sailors were subjected to random interrogation and rough handling, and faced constant psychological pressure, they said.
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. Let me be absolutely clear, from the outset it was very apparent that fighting back was simply not an option Royal Marine Captain Chris Air
"If we had, some of us would not be here today, of that I am completely sure." Royal Marine Captain Chris Air, 25, from Altrincham, Cheshire, explained why they had not fought back when confronted by the Iranians while carrying out a routine operation.
"We realised that had we resisted there would have been a major fight, one we could not have won." "We are aware that many people have questioned why we allowed ourselves to be taken in the first place and why we allowed ourselves to be shown by the Iranian authorities on television.
"We made a conscious decision not to engage the Iranians and do as they asked," he said. "Let me be absolutely clear, from the outset it was very apparent that fighting back was simply not an option".
"Had we chosen to do so then many of us would not be standing here today. Of that I have no doubts".
Had they resisted there would have been a major fight and "one we could not have won."
Random interrogationRandom interrogation
Two of the crew read out a prepared statement to the press conference at the Royal Marines Barracks at Chivenor, in north Devon.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.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." Cpt Chris Air said the crew had made it clear they were on a "routine operation allowed under a UN mandate" but the Iranians had a "planned intent."
"Some of the Iranian sailors were becoming deliberately aggressive and unstable.""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. Their boat was surrounded by six boats and 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.During their captivity the crew spent nights in stone cells, sleeping on blankets and were kept in isolation until their last few nights.
Actions defended The only woman in the group, Leading Seaman Faye Turney was told by her captors the others had been freed and gone home.
Earlier, the Royal Navy's head defended the actions of the personnel, after criticism that they gave up too easily. The officer in charge Lt Carman said: "We were interrogated most nights, and presented with two options.
First Sea Lord Admiral Sir Jonathon Band said the crew "reacted extremely well in very difficult circumstances". "If we admitted we had strayed, we would be on a plane back to the UK soon. If we didn't we faced up to seven years in prison".
HAVE YOUR SAY The UK government and its forces have been made to look like total fools Bob, Dundee class="" href="http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?threadID=5968&edition=1">Send us your comments He continued: "We were kept in isolation until the last few nights, when we were allowed to gather for a few hours together, in the full glare of Iranian media.
The captured personnel appeared on Iranian television admitting they had strayed into Iran's territorial waters, a claim the UK denies. When they finally learned they were going to be released from watching the Iranian president on TV he said "there a huge moment of elation".
Admiral Band told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "This incident was a most extraordinary act conducted in those waters... The navy has already begun a review of the circumstances leading to the capture.
"I think they acted with considerable dignity and a lot of courage".
The navy has begun a review of the circumstances leading to the capture.