A Russian submarine close to the coast of Britain may have dragged a trawler violently backwards after snagging in its nets, a fishermen's organisation has claimed. The Karen was towed at 10 knots during yesterday's incident 18 miles from Ardglass on the south-east shore of Northern Ireland and the vessel was badly damaged. Ardglass is one of Northern Ireland's main fishing ports and local trawlermen are usually more concerned about hitting their quotas than Cold War-style intrigue. Violently dragged: Captain Paul Murphy of the Karen, a fishing trawler, holds up a snapped steel cable aboard his boat. The damage is thought to have been caused by a Russian submarine . The incident happened off the coast of Northern Ireland and is the second time in two months that fishermen have reported being dragged by a suspected submarine (file picture) The 60-foot boat's captain Paul Murphy was pictured holding a snapped steel cable on board his boat following the alarming incident. Nato exercises were held this week in northern Scotland and Ardglass fishing representative Dick James said the alliance's drills may have attracted Russian interest. This week RAF Typhoons were launched to intercept two Russian aircraft near UK air space, the Ministry of Defence has confirmed. Mr James said: 'Our defence forces are not up to much if a rogue submarine of unidentified nationality is tearing around the Irish Sea.' Last month a trawler captain claimed his boat was nearly dragged down by a Russian submarine while fishing off the Scottish coast. The Karen was towed at 10 knots during yesterday's incident 18 miles from Ardglass on the south-east shore of Northern Ireland . Alarming episode: The Karen was towed at 10 knots during yesterday's incident and was badly damaged . The trawler's captain Paul Murphy points to an on-board computerised tracking system that shows his boat's unusual movements during the incident . Angus Macleod, 46, was fishing for haddock and skate when he became convinced that a hostile vessel was caught up below his boat Aquarius. The submarine attempted to free itself, taking the 65ft vessel and his two-ton catch with it. Recently Russian warships reportedly used the English Channel en route to military exercises in the North Atlantic. The coastguard said the Karen reported a collision at a point known as the Calf of Man not far from the Isle of Man. The skipper said the boat had been snagged and dragged backwards at speed. Mr James added: 'You don't need to go long at that until you go under.' The four crew members scrambled to release wires connecting the net to the out-of-control trawler, which had been moving slowly forward but was suddenly sent careering backwards through the water. As the ship steadied the shaken seamen stopped to catch their breath but there was no sign of the cause. The vessel made its way back to Ardglass and part of the deck had to be lifted because it was so badly damaged, and another section was ripped off. Mr James added: 'It is a bl***y mess.' He said Royal Navy protocols mean an incident like this would not happen involving a British submarine. He said: 'It is possible that it was a Russian submarine. Another recent alert: This week RAF Typhoons were launched to intercept two Russian aircraft, believed to be 'Bear' bombers, (stock image) near UK air space . No explanation: Experts said Russian President Vladimir Putin's move to send planes capable of carrying cruise missiles so close to British shores could be seen as an act of aggression . 'You cannot always prevent it but if an incident like this did happen the (Royal Navy) protocols said that the submarine would immediately surface to check on the health and welfare of the people involved and this one did not. 'Paul Murphy, the skipper, said that he sat for five to 10 minutes catching his breath to see if the submarine would surface. 'It was a submarine, it had to be, it could not have been anything else.' The incident came as Britain hosted a Nato exercise in northern Scotland involving more than 50 warships. Separately, the MoD has said RAF Typhoons, from RAF Lossiemouth, were deployed 'after Russian aircraft were identified flying close to UK air space'. It said it could not comment on Royal Navy submarine movements or the fishing vessel incident. Tensions over the Ukraine conflict have soured relations between the West and Russia, which is suffering from US and EU sanctions imposed because the Kremlin is backing separatists in eastern Ukraine. A map showing how jets were launched from RAF Lossiemouth on Monday, shortly after HMS Argyll was deployed to monitor a Russian destroyer and two other ships as they passed through the English Channel . Mr James, chief executive of the Northern Ireland Fish Producers' Organisation, said: 'There has been Russian activity. There have been Allied exercises going on, the Russians have been taking an interest in it. 'The question mark now is what kind of a submarine was it? 'If it was Allied it should have been following an agreed protocol where this should not have happened.' Sinn Fein Northern Ireland Assembly member Chris Hazzard said the community was angry. He said: 'The fact that this submarine didn't even surface to make sure the fishermen were safe has caused considerable resentment in the area. It is totally unacceptable that a submarine would show such contempt for maritime workers. 'The skipper and his crew on the Karen, and indeed all of the local fleet, deserve to know the truth about what happened. 'Whether this is a British vessel attached to the hugely controversial Trident system or a Nato submarine in training, our local fishermen deserve justice.'
The Karen was towed at 10 knots during yesterday's alarming incident . Took place 18 miles from Ardglass on southeast shore of Northern Ireland . Officials believe Nato drills may have attracted the interest of the Russians . Just three days ago, RAF Typhoons were sent to intercept two Russian aircraft near UK air space .