ATHENS – Greece’s Coast Guard said a Turkish fishing boat that was warned off in the Aegean near the islet of Oinousses tried to ram one of its vessels in what was said to be a serious incident.
It happened near where Turkey disputes Greece’s seas sovereignty when Greek officials not named told Kathimerini that the Coast Guard patrol boat approached the Turkish boat and told it to leave.
Sources told the paper that the three fishermen aboard the Turkish boat ignored the warnings and steered toward the Greek vessel and also threw several objects at it, with the Greeks firing back with a non-lethal weapon.
The Turkish boat then headed back toward Turkey’s coast and the report said that one of the fishermen was injured, according to Turkey’s Coast Guard which said that, “Opening fire on defenseless fishermen… is unacceptable, it is a crime against humanity.”
Tension has been high over Turkey’s claims on Greek waters and around Gree islands where President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said he would again send an energy research vessel and warships in a hung for oil and gas after pulling them back when the European Union warned there could be some sanctions.