Four men accused of threatening the crew of a cargo ship in the Thames Estuary have been charged with affray.

Ishola Sunday, 27, Samuel Jolumi, 26, Toheeb Popoola, 26, and Joberto McGee, 20, all of no fixed address, were arrested after police boarded the vessel on Friday following reports of stowaways allegedly threatening the crew.


Special Boat Service (SBS) operatives from Sabre Squadron fast-roped from helicopters on to the ship, which had been sailing in the Thames Estuary, sources told Sky's defence and security correspondent Alistair Bunkall.

The operation lasted around 25 minutes and no one on board was injured.

Essex Police were first alerted to an incident on the 71,000-tonne Grande Tema, which made its way to the UK after leaving Lagos, Nigeria, on 10 December.

The ship arrived at the Port of Tilbury shortly after 4.20am on Saturday, according to MarineTraffic.com

Grimaldi Lines, which operates the vessel, said there were no reports of injuries.

The men are now set to appear at Chelmsford Magistrates' Court on Monday.

https://uk.yahoo.com/news/thames-estuary-cargo-ship-four-men-charged-affray-160700850.html