DUBAI: An Indian fisherman aboard a boat shot at by the US Navy off Dubai's coast has told officials the crew received no warning before being fired upon, India's ambassador to the United Arab Emirates said yesterday.
The account differs from that provided by the Navy, which said it resorted to lethal force Monday only after issuing a series of warnings.
One Indian was killed in the incident, and three of his countrymen were seriously wounded. The shooting underscored how quickly naval encounters can escalate in the increasingly tense waters of the Gulf.
The shooting happened Monday afternoon when a boat rapidly approached the refueling ship USNS Rappahannock about 10 miles (16 kilometers) off Dubai's Jebel Ali port, according to the Navy.
The Navy said the boat's crew disregarded warnings from the US vessel, and only then did gunners fire on it with a .50-caliber machine gun.
A description of the incident posted online by the US military indicates that a security team aboard the Rappahannock began issuing warnings as the boat headed toward it from about 900 yards (820 meters) away. Gunners opened fire when the boat closed in to about 100 yards (90 meters), according to the account.
Indian consular officials have met with the wounded. Indian Ambassador M.K. Lokesh told The Associated Press yesterday that one of the survivors reported that the men were returning from fishing when they encountered the American ship.
"He says there was no warning" before the shooting occurred, Lokesh said, though he noted that authorities are still working to determine what happened. "We are waiting for the investigation to be complete."
Guest workers from India and other South Asian countries have flocked to the Gulf for decades in search of well-paying jobs. Many are employed as low-skilled workers in industries such as fishing and construction.
Dubai's police chief, Lt. Gen. Dahi Khalfan Tamim, said an initial investigation suggests "the boat was in its right course and did not pose any danger," according to comments published by Abu Dhabi-based daily The National. He told the government-backed newspaper that the shooting appeared to be a mistake.
Lokesh said the casualties are all from the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu. Four other men — two Indians and two Emiratis — were unhurt because they were in the boat's cabin, he said.
The three injured men are recovering in a Dubai hospital and are "out of danger," the Indian ambassador added. It was not immediately possible to reach the fishermen directly.
The US ambassador to India, Nancy Powell, has expressed regret for the loss of life and assured Indian officials that the US government will conduct a full investigation.
India has separately asked the United Arab Emirates to investigate the incident, Indian External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna said yesterday.
Emirati and American officials both say they are investigating.
Lt. Greg Raelson, a spokesman for the Navy's Bahrain-based 5th Fleet, declined to say what types of warnings the Rappahannock's crew issued before opening fire, though he said they acted in line with standard procedures.
The Gulf federation, which includes the commercial hub of Dubai and the oil-rich capital Abu Dhabi, is a key American ally in the Gulf. American warships frequently visit Jebel Ali port, a popular rest stop among US sailors.
Tensions are high in the Gulf after nearby Iran last week renewed threats to close the strategic Strait of Hormuz — the route for one-fifth of the world's oil — in retaliation for tighter sanctions over Iran's nuclear program.
Indian fisherman says no warning before US navy boat shooting
