Heckler May Have Menaced Navy Ships

Threats transmitted during a recent faceoff between US Navy vessels and Iranian boats may have come from a prankster known as the “Filipino Monkey,” the Navy Times reports. Towards the end of last month's faceoff in the Strait of Hormuz, a voice transmitted: “I am coming to you. You will explode in a few minutes.” Iran says the US lied about the threats; now Navy officials say they may have come from shore.

The menacing voice differs from an Iranian captain's and lacks the background noise of boat transmissions, observers say. The “Monkey” has apparently harassed Navy officers in the Middle East for 25 years. "There’s been this mythical guy out there who, hour after hour, shouts obscenities and threats,” a retired captain said. “He could be tied up pierside somewhere or he could be on the bridge of a merchant ship.” (More Iran stories.)