Britain demand answers from Spain after serious Gibraltar incursion

BRITISH Foreign Office minister Hugo Swire has demanded answers to what has been described as, an “outrageous” violation of British sovereignty by the Spanish in sending boats and helicopters into UK waters in Gibraltar.

The Chief Minister of Gibraltar, Fabian Picardo, said the incursions amounted to an illegal and dangerous display of “bravado”, and that his government is, “astonished and appalled” after Spanish police chasing criminals made several incursions into British waters in the past two days.

The Rt Hon Hugo Swire said: “On August 9, Spanish state vessels repeatedly entered British Gibraltar territorial waters without notifying Gibraltarian authorities.

“We understand that the Spanish were in pursuit of vessels who may have been committing crimes. However it is completely unacceptable and unlawful under the international law of the sea to enter our waters without notifying us.”

“These repeated incursions into British Gibraltar territorial waters are a clear violation of UK sovereignty by another EU country and we will be raising this as a matter of urgency with the Spanish authorities.”