Sea Shepherd claims Japan whalers attacked its vessels

Handout photo provided by Sea Shepherd on March 2, 2014 shows the Yushin Maru crossing the bow of the Bob Barker

Sydney (AFP) - Environmental activist group Sea Shepherd claimed Monday that Japanese whalers attacked its vessels in the Southern Ocean, and accused the Australian government of "broken promises" to monitor whaling operations.

Sea Shepherd said Japanese harpoon ships, the Yushin Maru and Yushin Maru 3, towed steel cables across the bow of its vessel the Bob Barker 11 times on Sunday in a bid to jam its propeller and rudder.