FEARS are growing for a Bolton man who was on one of the aid ships stormed by Israeli commandos this morning. Baboo Zanghar, who lives in Halliwell, was aboard the flotilla which was around 80 miles from the Gaza Strip, in international waters, when it was boarded by the Israeli navy.

He was one of 27 Britons onboard the six-ship convoy, which contained around £32,000 of aid for Gaza — primarily building supplies and medical equipment — donated by Bolton people.

Supporters are planning to hold a vigil in Victoria Square, Bolton, later today.

Conflicting reports say that as many as 20 people have been killed and dozens injured after fighting broke out between the those aboard the ships and the Israeli forces.

Attempts to contact Mr Zanghar, who took part in a road convoy to Gaza alongside Respect MP George Galloway last March, have been unsuccessful.

Salim Bhorat, a Bolton member of the Viva Palestina group who organised Bolton’s fundraising efforts ahead of the first convoy, said it had been more than two days since anyone had spoken to Mr Zanghar.

He said: “There is a lot of concern at the moment because we cannot find out who has been killed or who has been injured."

Mr Bhorat said he had spoken with Mr Zanghar’s family but they declined to speak to The Bolton News.

Foreign secretary William Hague said: "Our embassy is in urgent contact with the Israeli government. We are asking for more information and urgent access to any UK nationals involved.‪"

The attack on the ships, which left Cyprus on Sunday, has also caused widespread outrage among Bolton’s Muslim community, many of whom have made contributions to the latest convoy.

A spokesman for the Bolton Council of Mosques said: "These are innocent volunteers who have travelled to lend support in the form of humanitarian aid, to a people who are being continually deprived of their basic human rights.

“What the Israeli Government have done is wrong, it's immoral and inhumane."

But the Israeli Government defended its actions and said its soldiers were only acting in self-defence.

A spokesman for the Israeli embassy in London said: “When they boarded they were attacked with knives and sharp metal objects and left with not much option but to respond. "

The flotilla, which includes three cargo ships and three passenger ships, is trying to draw attention to Israel's three-year blockade of the Gaza Strip.

Bolton News June 2010