A police inflatable aggressively rammed one of our inflatable boats, the police boarded it and two of the activists jumped into the water. They were wearing survival suits that kept them dry and warm and they were able to swim to shore where shortly we had another inflatable pick them up and they are now safely back on board.

While all this was going on a police boat crossed the bow of the Rainbow Warrior, only a few metres away, the Captain radioed the police that they had just made a very dangerous move crossing so close in front of the bow.

The police boat then came along the starboard side and rammed the Rainbow Warrior several times. I was on the bridge when people started shouting they are going to board, the police are getting ready to board. The doors to the bridge were locked, all hatches and portholes secured.

I heard the anchor chain start to go down, but we couldn?t get it all the way down before the police boat started pushing the Rainbow Warrior out of the way. The police asked permission to come a board and it was denied. They told us if we went within the yellow buoys closer to the cargo ship, the Rainbow Warrior would be seized and everyone arrested.

Meanwhile we managed to get another three small inflatable boats for the Rainbow Warrior in the water. They were all within the yellow buoys and three inflatable police boats began to chase them, but they have not been able to catch them yet.

We are currently holding our position and the police have not yet come on board, but we expect them to come on board any time.