DID RUSSIANS’ »»
Spoof GPS signals could have fooled the skipper Masked commandos swooped to seize ship
A BRITISH oil tanker was “steered” towards Iranian waters by false GPS co-ordinates sent by Russian spy technology, it was feared last night.
Security sources say GCHQ and MI6 are investigating whether Iranian intelligence transmitted spoof signals to the skipper of the Stena Impero.
The tanker was seized on Friday and dramatic footage released yesterday by Iran’s Revolutionary Guard showed the moment commandos swooped.
As a helicopter hovered above, six balaclava-clad soldiers abseiled on to the deck armed with machine guns.
A number of speedboats darted around the tanker and it was all captured on film – suggesting the whole thing had been a trap laid by Tehran.
Yesterday a defence source said a Royal Navy warship raced to help the vessel but arrived 10 minutes too late.
The tanker was still in Omani waters when the orders were sent, but by the time HMS Montrose arrived the Impero had been redirected into Iranian waters.
TAMPERED
Security sources said Iranian drones may have tampered with GPS signals.
They told the Sunday Mirror that investigators will look into whether there is a technological footprint – and whether western spy planes in the area picked up any suspicious signals.
A western security source said: “Russia has the technology to spoof GPS and may have helped Iran in this venture as it was extremely brazen. It would make British shipping extremely vulnerable and will be of grave concern to Royal Navy warships in the region.
“The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and Russian intelligence have worked very closely in Syria, protecting and promoting their interests.”
News of Russia’s apparent involvement – which could only happen with President Putin’s approval – comes after spooks learned they have the ability to fool ships into false location readings.
It means the British tanker may have thought it was a safe distance from Iranian waters – only to stray off course.
A report in April found 10,000 “spoofing” incidents conducted by Russia. The Centre for Advanced Defence said most discovered over a 12-month period had involved ships, but some were seen around airports.
British commanders are surprised by the brazen and confident nature of the seizure, which adds weight to the possibility of GPS interference.
The former head of the Royal Navy, Admiral Lord West, yesterday demanded convoys be deployed to support ships travelling through the Gulf to prevent Iran seizing more vessels.
He said: “If Iranian ships try to attack them you sink them. They are the ones who have escalated things by attacking one of our merchant ships.”
Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt insisted the vessel was seized in Omani waters – in “clear contravention of international law”.
After a COBRA briefing
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