UPDATE HERE
THE leader of controversial environment group Sea Shepherd has been arrested on what is believed to be an attempted murder charge.
Captain Paul Watson was arrested in Germany over the weekend and will be extradited to Costa Rica on an outstanding arrest warrant from an incident which occurred in 2002.
In a statement Sea Shepherd said the arrest was related to a "violation of ships traffic" incident and involved a Costa Rican vessel called the Varadero in Guatemalan waters illegally hunting for shark fins.
"While escorting the Varadero back to port, the tables were turned and a Guatemalan gunboat was dispatched to intercept the Sea Shepherd crew," the statement read.
"The crew of the Varadero accused the Sea Shepherds of trying to kill them, while the video evidence proves this to be a fallacy. To avoid the Guatemalan gunboat, Sea Shepherd then set sail for Costa Rica, where they uncovered even more illegal shark finning activities in the form of dried shark fins by the thousands on the roofs of industrial buildings."
The group says Mr Watson and his ship intercepted the Varadero on the orders of the Guatemalan Government but later encountered a Costa Rican gun boat, the crew of which has accused Mr Watson of attempted murder.
The statement said video evidence proved the claims were untrue.
Paul Watson was arrested this afternoon (local german time) at the Frankfurt/Main Airport. Like and share this page so the worlds eyes are on germany! He was arrested because of a 7 year old arrest warrant from Costa Rica (dangerous shipping traffic)
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Update 5/14/2012
Update on the Arrest of Captain Watson: Day 2 in Custody
Captain Paul Watson defending the whales in the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary, as the Japanese factory ship, Nisshin Maru, lurks nearby. Photo: Barbara VeigaCaptain Watson remains in the custody of German authorities as of Monday, May 14th. A German judge in the lower courts of Frankfurt has refused to release Captain Watson, instead saying that the German court would like to confirm that Costa Rica wants Captain Watson extradited to their country. The German legal council representing Captain Watson includes Oliver Wallasch and Alexander Gruner. Sea Shepherd operatives continue to work around the clock in Europe and Latin America in order to determine the true reasons behind Costa Rica’s warrant.
The warrant for Captain Watson’s arrest was issued in Costa Rica in October of 2011, curiously close to the time that the Institute for Cetacean Research (ICR) filed their civil suit against Sea Shepherd Conservation Society in the United States. The question remains, what prompted Costa Rica to issue an arrest warrant for Captain Watson in October of 2011?
INTERPOL has issued a statement on their website citing that they will not publish a Red Notice seeking the arrest of Captain Watson because their Office of Legal Affairs is not satisfied that the request from Costa Rica is in compliance with INTERPOL’s Constitutions and Rules. Hopefully the German courts will come to the same conclusion soon and set Captain Watson free.
Check back for all recent news on Captain Paul we will be keeping on top of this story
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