The U.S. Navy has resumed bombing practice on Puerto Rico's Vieques Island on Friday after detaining eight protesters who had taken a boat to a tiny island off the coast of the bombing range. A larger group of protesters were gathered outside the gates leading onto the range, seeking to stop the Navy's use of the land for practice. Earlier, Navy A-4 bombers from the aircraft carrier USS Enterprise began bombing but stopped minutes later when the protesters were spotted on the island. Security forces were dispatched to remove them. Officials said that five other protesters were found overnight on the grounds of the range.
Protesters say more of their number are still on the grounds.
The Navy began the bombing practice after a federal judge ruled on Thursday against Puerto Rico's request for an emergency injunction to block the bombing. Meanwhile, protesters outside the bombing range were forming a human chain and said they would try to break through security to get onto the range as well. About 1,000 protesters rallied Thursday in San Juan, Puerto Rico, outside the Capitol building before heading to Fajardo for a ferry ride to Vieques. Roberto Rabin, spokesman for the Committee of Peace for Vieques, had warned the protesters will try to disrupt the exercises this weekend. Puerto Rico had sought a temporary restraining order and a preliminary injunction to block the drills, and U.S. District Judge Gladys Kessler's ruling applies only to that request.