An Al Qaeda magazine article has called on terrorists to attack tankers passing through the Strait of Gibraltar, according to a report in yesterday’s Sunday Express.

The report claims that terrorists have been instructed to ram ships with smaller vessels carrying explosives or hijack them to cause widespread chaos in one of the world’s busiest shipping lanes.

The Sunday Express contacted the Government for a reaction.

According to the paper, local authorities said: "This is not the first time that threats have been made to target merchant shipping passing through the Straits of Gibraltar.

"Defence and security in British Gibraltar Territorial Waters is the responsibility of the United Kingdom Government and not of the Government of Gibraltar.

"Having said that, it is only to be expected that those responsible for security in the region will take every precaution possible."

The full report can be read here: http://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/527524/EXCLUSIVE-Al-Qaeda-targets-oil-tankers-Gibraltar