14 DAY TRIAL // On March 2nd, the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society (SSCS) found again its ship surrounded by police officers. But this time around, it wasn't to illegally confiscate video materials of their encounters with the Japanese whaling fleet, like it had happened a few weeks back, but to protect the five members of the crew, who were on board at the time, from an anonymous bomb threat. The people were evicted in an orderly fashion, but the threat later turned out to be false, and a suspect was subsequently arrested.
“Someone called in a bomb threat about 20 minutes ago, stating that it would detonate in 30 minutes. You therefore have 10 minutes left,” police officers said upon arriving at Steve Irwin's docking place. “I immediately went to the bridge, rang the abandon ship alarm, then announced the bomb threat on the speaker system. There were five people on board besides me,” 2nd Officer Pedro Monteiro, who was the highest ranking officer on the ship at that moment, added.
“In total, four police cars showed up. The police believe they have a suspect. They were able to trace the call, so they know where it was made, and where the phone is registered. After waiting past the bomb detonation time, Ben and I searched the ship for any suspicious objects, then brought the rest of the crew onboard for a more thorough search. No bombs have been discovered. The Tasmanian Police were very helpful in this matter and seem to think they have a good chance of finding the person responsible,” he underlined on SSCS' website.
“I appreciate the quick response of the Tasmanian police and the readiness of the Sea Shepherd crew. As ranking onboard officer Pedro Monteiro responded coolly and efficiently. The event was given the seriousness required without panic or anxiety. We must always remember that we are in a war to save this planet from ourselves and retaliation must always be expected and attacks from cowards who make bomb threats should always be anticipated,” Captain Paul Watson, the leader of SSCS, pointed out.
At the time of the incident, five members of the crew were on King Island, helping authorities on site rescue a group of stranded pilot whales, while a number of others was ashore in Hobart, Tasmania. Five remained aboard the ship, when the police first arrived. It's regretful that the people who risk their lives in the freezing waters of Antarctica for the safety of the whales have to deal with such prank phone calls, coming from individuals who have it in their minds to lie about such things from their own mobile phones.