In a dramatic video posted on social media on Sunday, the moments before a Hellenic Coast Guard patrol vessel was rammed by the Turkish Coast Guard on Wednesday can be seen.
The video, obtained by Protothema, shows a Turkish Coast Guard vessel harassing Greek fishermen, even bringing out ammunition just 20 metres from the Greek fishing boat.
“It’s a fifty, there are the bullets too,” the fishermen, who were not intimidated and continued to record the Turkish provocations, say.
At one point, when the Turkish boat passed very close to the Greek fishermen, they can be heard wondering: “What is he doing now? They want to drown us?”
According to Ekathimerini sources, the Greek fishermen later called for reinforcements from the Hellenic Coast Guard and it was then that the Greek patrol vessel was rammed by the Turkish Coast Guard.
In a statement, the Hellenic Coast Guard said that its patrol vessel, a Rafnar 1100 Cabin Assault patrol rigid-hulled inflatable boat (RIB), had suffered minor damage and no one was injured in the incident.
