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M.STAR 9515436

The National Police Agency has found no trace of explosives among substances collected from athe "M. Star" that was damaged in a suspected attack in the Strait of Hormuz in late July. Based on the agency's analysis, the Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Ministry is unlikely to determine that any explosive device was used when it releases a report as early as November on what caused a large inward dent in the starboard quarter of the "M. Star". The ministry has been examining the dent, which stretches from above the waterline to well below it. It suspects, as do experts, that explosives were detonated on the outside below the waterline. Radar data retrieved from the tanker show two small unidentified boats moving suspiciously near the vessel, according to the ministry.

M.STAR 9515436

The "M. Star" entered Tokyo Bay Aug. 24 after its journey home from the United Arab Emirates (UAE). A team from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism's accident investigation committee will check the damaged section of the "M. Star" while it transfers its cargo of oil, examining the extent of the damage and looking for any foreign substances. The vessel had been on its way back to Japan at about 12:25 a.m. on July 28 when it was shaken by a sudden crash. The mysterious impact left one 11-meter-wide, one-meter-deep dent in the aft starboard hull about six meters above the waterline, and another 23-meter-wide dent about 16 meters below the waterline, and damage to the ship's mess. According to partial analysis of the "M. Star"'s data recorder, there were six boats of various sizes in the vessel's immediate vicinity just before the impact.

M.STAR 9515436

A militant group linked to Al Qaeda claimed responsibility for last week's attack on the "M. Star". The Brigades of Abdullah Azzam claimed it sent a suicide bomber to attack the "M. Star". A statement issued on jihadist websites on Aug 3 said the bombing was carried out by a militant named Ayyub al-Taishan, SITE said. It included a photograph of a man pointing to a computer screen showing the tanker.