Whaling Protester Says He Was Shot

Japanese vessel denies using bullets against activists
By Lucas Laursen,  Newser Staff
Posted Mar 7, 2008 10:03 AM CST
Whaling Protester Says He Was Shot
In this photo released by The Institute of Cetacean Research, anti-whaling activists aboard the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society ship throw glass bottles purportedly containing butyric acid and other substance towards the Japanese whaling factory ship Nisshin Maru in Antarctic waters Friday, March...   (Associated Press)

An anti-whaling activist says he was shot during a clash with a Japanese ship on the high seas, the Guardian reports. Japanese officials deny the allegations from the captain of the Sea Shepherd and say they fired only flash grenades, not bullets. Paul Watson, though, says he pulled one from his Kevlar vest.

"It bruised my shoulder but it would have hit my heart if I didn't have the vest," said Watson. In recent days, activists have raised tensions by tossing stink bombs onto the Japanese vessel as it hunts whales in the Southern Ocean. The Australian prime minister appealed for calm on both sides. (More Japan stories.)

Get the news faster.
Tap to install our app.
X
Install the Newser News app
in two easy steps:
1. Tap in your navigation bar.
2. Tap to Add to Home Screen.

X