Greenpeace

Protests were held in cities around the world on Saturday to rally support for the 28 Greenpeace activists and two journalists currently being held by the Russian government on charges of piracy. Both activists and governments have been shocked by Russia's decision to level serious piracy charges against Greenpeace's Arctic Sunrise crew after a protest against Arctic oil drilling. On Saturday Moscow authorities hit out at both Greenpeace and the Dutch government under whose flag the environmental lobby group's ship sailed. The Dutch initiated legal action Friday attempting to free the crew. The US State Department also said it was "monitoring the case very closely."

Armed Russian military have stormed a Greenpeace ship protesting against oil exploitation in remote Arctic waters. According to the last communications from the Arctic Sunrise before all contact was cut at around 4.30pm BST, the Russians dropped guards on to the deck of the vessel by rope from a helicopter, rounded up the Greenpeace crew and broke into the wheel house and communications rooms. Tweets from three people who locked themselves into a secure area on the ship said: "This is pretty terrifying. Loud banging. Screaming in Russian. They're still trying to kick in the door". Another said: "Crew are sitting on their knees on the helipad with guns pointed at them."