Russia oil tanker ‘seized by US helicopter attack’ off UK coast as Trump risks WW3 | World | News

Russian tanker Bella 1 is being seized off the UK coast, Russian media has claimed, as photos of a reported helicopter assault leak online. After a more than two-week-long pursuit across the Atlantic the US is attempting to seize the Venezuela-linked tanker, a US official has confirmed.

The official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the operation is being conducted by the U.S. Coast Guard in coordination with the U.S. military. The seizure is is currently taking place near Ireland, according to Russian media. Just hours ago US ship was spotted stalking the vessels. Amid escalating tensions between the two nuclear-armed powers, the US dispatched submarine-hunting aircraft to track Russian warships in the North Atlantic.

The seizure — a move likely to inflame tensions with Moscow — followed the tanker’s escape from a US maritime “blockade” on sanctioned vessels and its refusal to comply with Coast Guard boarding attempts.

The ship had previously been operating under the name Bella-1 before its name was suddenly changed to Marinera after the US Coast Guard attempted to board it in the Caribbean.

Although, the vessel is believed to be empty the US had obtained a warrant over alleged violations of US sanctions and claims that the ship had transported Iranian oil.

Earlier today Russia moved in warships to protect the oil tanker.

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