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Former Head Commander of Specialist Operations at Scotland Yard, Roy Ramm, highlighted that the Ministry of Defence should be contacted to tackle the “incredibly difficult” situation aboard the 70000 tonne Grande Tema, which has been circling off the coast of Kent since this morning. The four migrants were locked in a cabin by the crew but as the ship rounded the Isle of Thanet in Kent, they escaped from the room and picked up "iron tubing" and threatened the ship's staff - who are locked on the bridge. Mr Ramm told Sky News: “It’s an incredibly difficult situation to unravel.

“You can’t think of anything worse than this huge ship circling in one of the world’s busiest sea lanes where the captain and the crew are being threatened by people who have armed themselves with iron bars and are telling the skipper what to do. “These people have got to understand the danger that they’re putting themselves and the vessel in. “There needs to be some sort of tactical response being thought about to think about boarding this vessel and taking back control of it, because it’s a very serious situation. “Conducting negotiations is not going to be easy.

Thames hijack: The migrants are armed with iron bars

“The crew are safely locked in the bridge at the moment - but how long is that completely sustainable? “Could they break in, could they threaten other people who are not on the bridge? “Getting the dialogue started with them is going to be very challenging - you’ve got to understand precisely what they want and offer them something in return for their good conduct. “I can’t think of another situation that mirrors this.