Spain And British Ships Almost Come To Blows Over Gibraltor

The rock (back) of the British Colony of Gibraltar is seen at dusk from La Linea de la Concepcion, southern Spain on May 18. Jon Nazca/Reuters

British, Spanish Ships Almost Come To Blows Over 'The Rock' -- Christian Science Monitor

The British navy and Spanish civil guard faced off today over a fishing dispute off the Gibraltar coast. Spain maintains it only ceded Gibraltar to the British, not the waters around it.

The British Royal Navy and Spain’s Civil Guard engaged in a testy three hour standoff this morning over the sovereignty of waters off Gibraltar that devolved into bad-mouthing and at least one small collision.

Spanish boats were fishing in waters claimed by both Spain and the UK when Gibraltarian police speedboats, backed up by the British Royal Navy, encircled them. Spanish Civil Guard armed patrollers and a helicopter came to the fishermen’s defense, prompting the Royal Navy ship to intervene, setting off a shouting match, and causing at least one minor, and apparently accidental, collision.

Read more ....

More News On the British - Spanish Conflict Over Gibraltar

Gibraltar and Spain clash in fishing rights dispute -- BBC
Send in the navy! Spanish police call for help in escalating dispute about fishing around Gibraltar -- Daily Mail
Gibraltar police harass Spanish fishing boats -- FOX News/EFE
Gibraltar police turn back boats -- SKY News
After Spanish hostility, pressure builds for diplomatic solution at Hague –Margallo encounter -- Gibraltar Chronicle