The boxship, MSC Lorena, on route from Senegal to Antwerp, had to turn back in the river Scheldt after the Belgian authorities had been informed that there was a bomb on board, together with a threat to detonate it if the ship berthed in the Belgian port.
As a precautionary measure, the Belgian police immediately ordered the ship to return to Vlissingen, where it was told to remain at anchor until the situation was deemed safe.
According to Belgian media reports, the Maritime Police notified Antwerp Port Authority and also informed the Threat Assessment Coordination Unit, an organization that investigates terrorist and extremist threats.
Translation by Giles Foster
