Crew of explosives ship questioned

Greek coast guards were questioning the crew of a ship found carrying 680 tons of explosives today to see if they have any links to terrorists or criminal gangs.

An army demolitions expert was also asked to examine the cargo of the Comoros-flagged Baltic Sky, which docked yesterday in Platiyali, 145 miles north-west of Athens.

Authorities have not yet said what type of material was on board.

“We want this cleared up as soon as possible and the ship removed because of its cargo,” said Pythagorus Samaras, the mayor of Astakos, a small town near the tiny port of Platiyali.

Greece’s Merchant Marine Ministry had no further information on the ship and its crew of five Ukrainians and two Azerbaijanis. The ship had been sailing in Greek territorial waters.

Although there were no official details about its destination, there were reports it had loaded the cargo in a north African port and was planning to deliver it to an east African country.

Such a route, however, would not pass along the west coast of Greece.

Authorities said they were conducting an in-depth investigation because of the large quantity of material found on board the ship.

Concerns about terrorism have escalated following recent bombings in Saudi Arabia and Morocco.

In Kenya, the US embassy was temporarily closed on Friday and air traffic was restricted after the Pentagon raised the terrorism threat level.

According to Greece’s Merchant Marine Ministry, the ship is registered to Alpha Shipping based on the Pacific Ocean nation of Marshall Islands.

The Comoros, a nation off the south-east coast of Africa, is used by shipping companies as a so-called flag of convenience to avoid taxes and other regulations.