Now the paper claims that a Guardia Civil has been injured by the attack of boats from the Gibraltar Police when the Guardia were chasing drug traffickers from Morocco. The paper says the step up in tension led to a situation which was ‘five minutes away from a clash of incalculable consequences’.
Guardia Civil sources have explained they had intercepted the traffickers when 3.7 kms from the Gibraltar coast, and that the traffickers had thrown bales of drugs overboard during the chase which started when 10.kms off Europa Point. After the traffickers had been held, seven boats from the Gibraltar customs, Royal Navy and Gibraltar Police arrived, and the Guardia claims tried to free the traffickers with the Gibraltar boats blocking the way for the Spanish vessels. They claim their ships suffered damage and one agent was injured in the arm, which needed medical attention when back on shore. They claim that insults and threats from the British ships were continuous.
Socialist deputy, Salvador de la Encina, has confirmed an ‘incident’, but declined to comment until the Guarda Civil presents its completed report.
The Gibraltar Chronicle reports that a police vessel suffered minor damage in the incident, claiming that both the Guardia Civil and the Gibraltar Police were chasing the drug traffickers into the bay, and it was during the chase that a police boat collided with one of the Spanish vessels. It says no one is believed to have been hurt in the incident which took place at 1pm on Sunday.
The Royal Gibraltar Police say a full statement will be made on Tuesday.
El Mundo reports on a new level of tension between the Guardia Civil and the Gibraltar Police following new clashes between boats of the two in the waters surrounding the rock.
