Iranian oil tanker crew being interviewed as witnesses in Gibraltar

The crew on the giant Iranian oil tanker detained in Gibraltar are being interviewed as witnesses, not criminals, in an effort to establish the nature of the cargo and its ultimate destination, a spokesman for the British territory said. British Royal Marines seized the Grace 1 tanker on Thursday for trying to take oil to Syria in violation of European Union sanctions.

The spokesman said the 28-member crew, who have remained on board the supertanker, were mainly Indians with some Pakistanis and Ukrainians. Police and customs officials remained on board the vessel to carry out their investigation but the Royal Marines were no longer present.