Spanish boats ‘risk being fired on by Navy’ after entering Gibralta's territorial waters
Spain was today warned that Royal Navy warships could open fire on its boats if they are mistaken for “terrorists” after entering Gibraltar’s territorial waters.
Fabian Picardo, Chief Minister of Gibraltar, also called for the British Government to send reinforcements to the Rock. His warning over the dangers of a gun battle being accidentally sparked came after a Spanish research vessel ignored Royal Navy requests to leave the waters around Gibraltar for more than 20 hours.
The Spanish Ambassador to Britain, Federico Trillo, was summoned to the Foreign Office yesterday over the incident — for the third time since 2011.
Mr Picardo highlighted the risks of Spanish Guarda Civil vessels coming into Gibraltar’s territorial waters “without warning”. If they approached “from the sun”, he added, they may not be visible to UK or US ships refuelling or restocking.
“They may be mistaken for terrorists, it’s a security issue that Spain need to be aware of,” he told BBC radio.
The Spanish boats, which could be breaching international law, “might then find themselves shot at because they are not identified as the vessel of a friendly nation”, he added.
Asked about whether Britain should beef up its military presence on the Rock, Mr Picardo said: “I would be in favour of anything that has a positive, deterrent effect.” He also accused Spain of “needling away” at the UK.
Ministers were watching Madrid’s next step after the Spanish state research vessel Ramon Margalef left Gibraltar’s waters. Europe minister David Lidington has condemned the “provocative incursion”.
About 20 Royal Navy ships stop at Gibraltar each year and the waters are protected by two 24-tonne patrol boats, HMS Sabre and HMS Scimitar.
The European Commission last week found Spain broke no EU rules by stepping up checks on the border crossing into Gibraltar.
The move came after Gibraltar had created an artificial reef off its coast, angering Spanish fishermen.
