Spanish police fire four shots at British jet skier off Gibraltar: UK government condemn 'completely unacceptable' use of force in British waters
Shots fired in British territorial waters on Sunday evening
Jet ski rider says no warning was given before shots were fired
He is 'disappointed and distraught' over the incident
Royal Navy vessel intercepted Spanish boat following shooting
Minister for Europe David Lidington has protested to Spanish government
Spanish police fired shots at a British jet skier in Gibraltar on Sunday evening in an incident which the UK Government today condemned as being 'completely unacceptable'.
The male rider of the jet ski claimed he was chased by a Guardia Civil boat in British Gibraltar territorial waters at 7pm on Sunday.
He claimed four shots were fired at him and his passenger without any warning being given. Following the shooting, a Royal Navy vessel intercepted the Rio Cedena boat and told it to leave the waters.
The Foreign Office today protested to the Spanish Government over the 'completely unacceptable' use of a weapon and demanded an urgent investigation.
Speaking to Vox, the jet ski rider said he had been taking friends and family members on rides on a new Jet Ski in the Western Bay area.
He says he was not involved in any illegal activities, such as tobacco smuggling.
He claims there was no reason for the shooting, which has left him feeling 'disappointed and distraught'.
He said: 'During the journey in question, I left Western beach, always staying within the confines of British Waters, and hugging the coast.
'At the entrance to the north mole, I turned around and made my way back to Western Beach.
Spanish police fired shots at a British jet skier in Gibraltar on Sunday evening in an incident which the UK Government today condemned as being 'completely unacceptable'.
The male rider of the jet ski claimed he was chased by a Guardia Civil boat in British Gibraltar territorial waters at 7pm on Sunday.
He claimed four shots were fired at him and his passenger without any warning being given. Following the shooting, a Royal Navy vessel intercepted the Rio Cedena boat and told it to leave the waters.
The Foreign Office today protested to the Spanish Government over the 'completely unacceptable' use of a weapon and demanded an urgent investigation.
SCROLL DOWN FOR VIDEO
Anger: The government has criticised Spanish police after shots were fired at British jet skiers in Gibraltar
Anger: The Government has criticised Spanish police after shots were fired at a British jet skier in Gibraltar
Video emerges of 'Gibraltar Jet Ski Incident'
Speaking to Vox, the jet ski rider said he had been taking friends and family members on rides on a new Jet Ski in the Western Bay area.
He says he was not involved in any illegal activities, such as tobacco smuggling.
He claims there was no reason for the shooting, which has left him feeling 'disappointed and distraught'.
He said: 'During the journey in question, I left Western beach, always staying within the confines of British Waters, and hugging the coast.
'At the entrance to the north mole, I turned around and made my way back to Western Beach.
Worrying: The jet ski rider said he had been taking friends and family members on rides. This picture shows the Guardia Civil vessel, left, approaching the jet ski, right
Worrying: The jet ski rider said he had been taking friends and family members on rides when he was chased by the Guardia Civil vessel
Dramatic: This video footage shows the jet ski, right, being chased by the Guardia Civil vessel, left
Dramatic: This video footage shows the jet ski being chased
'It was on the journey back, that my friend made me aware that a Guardia Civil vessel had turned around and begun to chase me.
'The vessel quickly caught up with me, where I could just about make out 3 individuals, one of whom was carrying a black weapon about a metre in length which was aimed towards our jet ski.
Under the 2006 constitution of Gibraltar, the territory governs its own affairs although defence and foreign relations are still the responsibility of the UK Government.
Located on the southern end of the Iberian Peninsula, it is an area of 6.8 square kilometres.
'At this point, I was in fear for our safety and wanted to get back onto the beach away from the threat.
'Suddenly, shots were fired, and I had to perform evasive manouvres in order to avoid being an easy target for the person carrying the weapon, and also to avoid being run down by the substantially larger vessel.
'Somehow, after what I recall hearing at least 4 separate shots, I made it past the entrance into western beach, which lies at the end of the airport runway.
'Upon landing at the beach, I approached a Police Constable who reported the incident immediately to the Central Station.'
Unconfirmed local reports said the Civil Guard officer had fired rubber bullets from a rapid response vessel called Rio Cedena.
The Royal Gibraltar Police are understood to have searched the jet ski after the incident and found nothing.
Eyewitness Simy Herbert described the Civil Guard as 'trigger-happy' and told Gibraltar daily Panorama: 'The Foreign Office has to do something now because when someone is shot in our waters then everybody will start flapping.
'They have to act now, later they will regret it.'
Minister for Europe David Lidington today protested to Spanish Minister, ??igo Mendez de Vigo.
He said: 'I spoke today with Spanish Minister for the European Union, ??igo Mendez de Vigo, in order to protest in the strongest terms following an incident on 23 June in British Gibraltar Territorial Waters (BGTW).
'During an illegal incursion by a Guardia Civil vessel, a Guardia Civil officer fired a weapon.
'I made clear that the discharge of a weapon in or near Gibraltar is completely unacceptable. I urged Se?or Mendez de Vigo to investigate urgently and to take action to ensure that this will not happen again.
'I can also confirm that I have instructed the Charg? D***8217;Affaires in Madrid to reiterate this protest in person to the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs and to request a full explanation.'
The Government of Gibraltar issued a statement today saying: 'This appears to be a very serious incident.
'The Government has been in close contact already with the Royal Gibraltar Police in assessing the information available.
'The facts are in the process of being fully determined and when they are, decisions will be made as to how best to react to the incident.'
Last November, Spain was accused of an unlawful incursion into Britain's territorial waters after a Spanish warship called Vencedora, a 288ft corvette, came within three miles of Gibraltar's coast.
The ship ignored radio warnings to leave the area and HMS Scimitar, a seven-man patrol boat, was scrambled to intercept.
Gibraltar Chief Minister Fabian Picardo described the incident as a 'scandalous act of aggression which is illegal, imprudent, unprofessional and irresponsible.'
The British government subsequently revealed Spanish state vessels illegally entered the disputed waters around Gibraltar 178 times between November 2011 and the end of October 2012.
Britain was given Gibraltar in the 1713 Treaty of Utrecht.
Spain has said it will never renounce its claim to sovereignty.
It still refuses to recognise the agreement included the seas around Gibraltar outside the port perimeter - and has repeatedly tried to reclaim them.
A Ministry of Defence spokesman said: 'The Convent (the office of the Governor of Gibraltar) is aware of reports of an incident on Sunday 23 June at around 7pm.
'The Royal Navy Gibraltar Squadron challenged the unlawful incursion by Guardia Civil vessel Rio Cedena around the Western Beach area and the vessel departed British Gibraltar Territorial Waters.
'The Convent is now in contact with the Royal Gibraltar Police (RGP) about the wider allegations being reported and the RGP are investigating further.
***8220;The Royal Navy patrols and continues to challenge all unlawful incursions into British Gibraltar Territorial Waters by Spanish state vessels by issuing appropriate warnings.
'This forms an important part of Her Majesty***8217;s Government***8217;s commitment to uphold our sovereignty against unlawful incursions with a range of proportionate naval, police and diplomatic responses.'
THIS IS ANOTHER REASON WJHY WE CANT BE PART OF THE EU! NO RESPECT FOR US. WE CANT JUST THROW AWAY OUR HISTORY AND OUR TERRITORIES FOR THE PONCE EU
Shots fired in British territorial waters on Sunday evening
Jet ski rider says no warning was given before shots were fired
He is 'disappointed and distraught' over the incident
Royal Navy vessel intercepted Spanish boat following shooting
Minister for Europe David Lidington has protested to Spanish government
Spanish police fired shots at a British jet skier in Gibraltar on Sunday evening in an incident which the UK Government today condemned as being 'completely unacceptable'.
The male rider of the jet ski claimed he was chased by a Guardia Civil boat in British Gibraltar territorial waters at 7pm on Sunday.
He claimed four shots were fired at him and his passenger without any warning being given. Following the shooting, a Royal Navy vessel intercepted the Rio Cedena boat and told it to leave the waters.
The Foreign Office today protested to the Spanish Government over the 'completely unacceptable' use of a weapon and demanded an urgent investigation.
Speaking to Vox, the jet ski rider said he had been taking friends and family members on rides on a new Jet Ski in the Western Bay area.
He says he was not involved in any illegal activities, such as tobacco smuggling.
He claims there was no reason for the shooting, which has left him feeling 'disappointed and distraught'.
He said: 'During the journey in question, I left Western beach, always staying within the confines of British Waters, and hugging the coast.
'At the entrance to the north mole, I turned around and made my way back to Western Beach.
Spanish police fired shots at a British jet skier in Gibraltar on Sunday evening in an incident which the UK Government today condemned as being 'completely unacceptable'.
The male rider of the jet ski claimed he was chased by a Guardia Civil boat in British Gibraltar territorial waters at 7pm on Sunday.
He claimed four shots were fired at him and his passenger without any warning being given. Following the shooting, a Royal Navy vessel intercepted the Rio Cedena boat and told it to leave the waters.
The Foreign Office today protested to the Spanish Government over the 'completely unacceptable' use of a weapon and demanded an urgent investigation.
SCROLL DOWN FOR VIDEO
Anger: The government has criticised Spanish police after shots were fired at British jet skiers in Gibraltar
Anger: The Government has criticised Spanish police after shots were fired at a British jet skier in Gibraltar
Video emerges of 'Gibraltar Jet Ski Incident'
Speaking to Vox, the jet ski rider said he had been taking friends and family members on rides on a new Jet Ski in the Western Bay area.
He says he was not involved in any illegal activities, such as tobacco smuggling.
He claims there was no reason for the shooting, which has left him feeling 'disappointed and distraught'.
He said: 'During the journey in question, I left Western beach, always staying within the confines of British Waters, and hugging the coast.
'At the entrance to the north mole, I turned around and made my way back to Western Beach.
Worrying: The jet ski rider said he had been taking friends and family members on rides. This picture shows the Guardia Civil vessel, left, approaching the jet ski, right
Worrying: The jet ski rider said he had been taking friends and family members on rides when he was chased by the Guardia Civil vessel
Dramatic: This video footage shows the jet ski, right, being chased by the Guardia Civil vessel, left
Dramatic: This video footage shows the jet ski being chased
'It was on the journey back, that my friend made me aware that a Guardia Civil vessel had turned around and begun to chase me.
'The vessel quickly caught up with me, where I could just about make out 3 individuals, one of whom was carrying a black weapon about a metre in length which was aimed towards our jet ski.
Under the 2006 constitution of Gibraltar, the territory governs its own affairs although defence and foreign relations are still the responsibility of the UK Government.
Located on the southern end of the Iberian Peninsula, it is an area of 6.8 square kilometres.
'At this point, I was in fear for our safety and wanted to get back onto the beach away from the threat.
'Suddenly, shots were fired, and I had to perform evasive manouvres in order to avoid being an easy target for the person carrying the weapon, and also to avoid being run down by the substantially larger vessel.
'Somehow, after what I recall hearing at least 4 separate shots, I made it past the entrance into western beach, which lies at the end of the airport runway.
'Upon landing at the beach, I approached a Police Constable who reported the incident immediately to the Central Station.'
Unconfirmed local reports said the Civil Guard officer had fired rubber bullets from a rapid response vessel called Rio Cedena.
The Royal Gibraltar Police are understood to have searched the jet ski after the incident and found nothing.
Eyewitness Simy Herbert described the Civil Guard as 'trigger-happy' and told Gibraltar daily Panorama: 'The Foreign Office has to do something now because when someone is shot in our waters then everybody will start flapping.
'They have to act now, later they will regret it.'
Minister for Europe David Lidington today protested to Spanish Minister, ??igo Mendez de Vigo.
He said: 'I spoke today with Spanish Minister for the European Union, ??igo Mendez de Vigo, in order to protest in the strongest terms following an incident on 23 June in British Gibraltar Territorial Waters (BGTW).
'During an illegal incursion by a Guardia Civil vessel, a Guardia Civil officer fired a weapon.
'I made clear that the discharge of a weapon in or near Gibraltar is completely unacceptable. I urged Se?or Mendez de Vigo to investigate urgently and to take action to ensure that this will not happen again.
'I can also confirm that I have instructed the Charg? D***8217;Affaires in Madrid to reiterate this protest in person to the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs and to request a full explanation.'
The Government of Gibraltar issued a statement today saying: 'This appears to be a very serious incident.
'The Government has been in close contact already with the Royal Gibraltar Police in assessing the information available.
'The facts are in the process of being fully determined and when they are, decisions will be made as to how best to react to the incident.'
Last November, Spain was accused of an unlawful incursion into Britain's territorial waters after a Spanish warship called Vencedora, a 288ft corvette, came within three miles of Gibraltar's coast.
The ship ignored radio warnings to leave the area and HMS Scimitar, a seven-man patrol boat, was scrambled to intercept.
Gibraltar Chief Minister Fabian Picardo described the incident as a 'scandalous act of aggression which is illegal, imprudent, unprofessional and irresponsible.'
The British government subsequently revealed Spanish state vessels illegally entered the disputed waters around Gibraltar 178 times between November 2011 and the end of October 2012.
Britain was given Gibraltar in the 1713 Treaty of Utrecht.
Spain has said it will never renounce its claim to sovereignty.
It still refuses to recognise the agreement included the seas around Gibraltar outside the port perimeter - and has repeatedly tried to reclaim them.
A Ministry of Defence spokesman said: 'The Convent (the office of the Governor of Gibraltar) is aware of reports of an incident on Sunday 23 June at around 7pm.
'The Royal Navy Gibraltar Squadron challenged the unlawful incursion by Guardia Civil vessel Rio Cedena around the Western Beach area and the vessel departed British Gibraltar Territorial Waters.
'The Convent is now in contact with the Royal Gibraltar Police (RGP) about the wider allegations being reported and the RGP are investigating further.
***8220;The Royal Navy patrols and continues to challenge all unlawful incursions into British Gibraltar Territorial Waters by Spanish state vessels by issuing appropriate warnings.
'This forms an important part of Her Majesty***8217;s Government***8217;s commitment to uphold our sovereignty against unlawful incursions with a range of proportionate naval, police and diplomatic responses.'
THIS IS ANOTHER REASON WJHY WE CANT BE PART OF THE EU! NO RESPECT FOR US. WE CANT JUST THROW AWAY OUR HISTORY AND OUR TERRITORIES FOR THE PONCE EU
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