Malaysia detains Chinese ship linked to suspected illegal salvage of British WW2 wrecks

Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency officers inspected the ship after it failed to present anchoring permits.

KUALA LUMPUR, May 29 (Reuters): Malaysia's maritime authorities on Monday said cannon shells believed to be from World War Two have been found on a China-registered bulk carrier ship detained at the weekend for anchoring in its waters without permission.

The discovery comes amid reports this month that scavengers have targeted two British World War Two wrecks off the coast of Malaysia - the HMS Prince of Wales and HMS Repulse - which were sunk by Japanese torpedoes in 1941, just three days after the devastating attack on Pearl Harbor in Hawaii.