Royal Marines storm Syria-bound VLCC

At 2am this morning British military forces in Gibraltar took control of a VLCC bound for Syria, suspected of breaching EU sanctions.

A detachment of Royal Marines boarded the 22-year-old Grace 1, which Equasis lists as owned by Singapore-based Grace Tankers. The ship was destined for the Banias refinery in Syria and is believed to be carrying around 2m barrels or Iranian crude.

Sanctions have been in place against Syria since 2011.