UPDATE 3-Police arrest seven after British special forces board tanker

* Seven stowaways arrested after special forces storm vessel
* Stowaways were hostile to crew, which asked for help
* Had snuck aboard Nave Andromeda tanker in Lagos, Nigeria

(Recasts with arrests)
By Henry Nicholls
SOUTHAMPTON, England, Oct 26 (Reuters) - Seven men have been
arrested on suspicion of seizing control of a ship, British
police said on Monday after special forces stormed an oil tanker
under threat from a group of stowaways the previous evening.
The tanker's operator thanked the British authorities,
saying help was requested after seven stowaways who had boarded
in Lagos, Nigeria, turned hostile.
Troops from the Special Boat Service, Britain's elite naval
special forces unit, boarded the Greek-operated Nave Andromeda
near the Isle of Wight off southern England after the master of
the ship said he was concerned about the safety of his crew.
"The seven men have been arrested on suspicion of seizing or
exercising control of a ship by use of threats or force," police
said. The men are in police custody.
Defence Secretary Ben Wallace and Home Secretary Priti Patel
authorised the armed forces to board the tanker "to safeguard
life and secure a ship that was subject to suspected hijacking",
the defence ministry said. Sources with knowledge of the situation aboard the vessel
said it was not a hijacking or hostage taking.
"The UK authorities had been advised by the Master that
stowaways had been found on board and that he was concerned for
the safety of the crew due to the increasingly hostile behaviour
of the stowaways," Athens-based Navios Tanker Management said.
"Happily no crew members were injured and all are safe and
well," it said. "Navios Tanker Management wish to thank all the
UK Authorities involved in this operation for their timely and
professional response."
The seven were detained in the operation involving the SBS,
the navy, coastguard and police.
"Navios would also like to pay tribute to the Master of the
Nave Andromeda for his exemplary response and calmness and to
all the crew for their fortitude in a difficult situation," the
ship operator said.
The defence ministry declined to confirm or deny the
involvement of the SBS - in line with British government policy
of not commenting on special forces operations.
But a source with knowledge of the matter said the SBS were
involved. SBS operations are usually classified.