Photosales
niJobfinder
niCarfinder
Home Delivery
Propertynews
Afghan officer kills five British soldiers
Wednesday, 4 November 2009
Five British troops have been shot dead in Afghanistan by a police officer.
The policeman turned on them and started firing inside a military compound.
The soldiers, three from the Grenadier Guards and two from the Royal Military Police, died in the Nad-e'Ali district of Helmand Province yesterday afternoon. Their families have been informed.
Army spokesman Lieutenant Colonel David Wakefield said: "The soldiers concerned were mentoring Afghan police. They were working inside and living inside an Afghan national police checkpoint."
He told Sky News: "It would appear, and it is our initial understanding, that an individual Afghan policeman possibly acting with another started firing within the checkpoint before fleeing the scene."
He stressed that the attack did not come as a result of any breakdown or fight between British and Afghan forces.
The gunman's whereabouts were unknown but British forces were making every effort to find him, military officials said.
Prime Minister Gordon Brown paid tribute to the soldiers describing their deaths as a "terrible loss".
"My thoughts, condolences and sympathies go to their families, loved ones and colleagues. I know that the whole country too will mourn their loss," he said.
"They fought to make Afghanistan more secure, but above all to make Britain safer from the terrorism and extremism which continues to threaten us from the border areas of Afghanistan and Pakistan.
"I pay tribute to their courage, skill and determination. They will never be forgotten.
"It is my highest priority to ensure our heroic troops have the best possible support and equipment - and the right strategy, backed by our international partners, and by a new Afghan government ready to play its part in confronting the challenges Afghanistan faces.
"Our troops deserve nothing less. My commitment to them remains unshakeable."
- Text Size
As an American soldier serving a second tour in Afghanistan I can say that this is a tough fight to win. Soldiers throughout the country are facing an enemy that is comfortable fighting a war of shadows and cowardice. Corruption is rampent and the Afghan citizens care little about progress for thier country. It is hard to imagine an end to this war in any time frame. Even if there is a troop surge, the enemy will simply melt back across the border and bide thier time. Its a complex fight and politicans have a very fleeting grasp of the dynamics of the conflict. Thanks for letting me vent.
Posted by matt | 05.11.09, 04:14 GMT
Many of the those shouting 'bring the troops home' were cheerleaders for war. They couldn't wait to send soldiers to another third world country. Those against the war from the start were labeled as idiots by the media (including columnists in this paper who couldn't wait for more war) and the government. Not so smarmy now are we?
Posted by Angie B | 05.11.09, 02:57 GMT
as an american who served with british forces in iraq i am saddened by the loss of life of these soldiers. why do they tell us that our troops are fighting for our freedom in afghanistan and iraq? the biggest threat to our freedoms are in washington dc and london. the politicians who start these wars to make money should all be tried for treason!
Posted by Jacob Barnett | 05.11.09, 02:44 GMT
You have never felt threatened by the British Forces dm, you obviously have never been in a Garrison town when they are out drunk,looking for fights with the locals and it is put down to stress from their job????????????????????
Posted by jimg | 05.11.09, 01:16 GMT
Centaur,
So "we" won 2 world wars. With 400,000 total British Commonwealth dead in WW11, I thought you might consider that the 20 million Russians - including the 500,000 in the first few days of the German invasion of Russia had something to do with final ALLIED victory. Throw in massive American aid even before the US entered the war, 70% + of the forces at Normandy were American + most all of the equipment.
1.6 million French boys aged 18 - 26 were killed in WW1, in addition to a fairly similar number of German lads.
So let's hear it Centaur about how "we" won the wars.
Posted by Patrick | 05.11.09, 00:53 GMT
Brown says My commitment to them remains unshakeable."
I'm speechless!!!! Does he really think that we believe him???
Posted by Nee-Naw | 04.11.09, 20:38 GMT
The sooner Britain gets out of Afghanistan - the better!
Posted by david wayne osedach | 04.11.09, 18:47 GMT
What are the troops dying for? Bush Jr. Afghanistan crusade is wrong from day one. Russia left in 1989 after nine years. No one is going to (change) this country as shown by history. Every country should just leave. The real problem is in Pakistan. P.S. Bush Sr. had Iraq sewed up and Bush Jr. was wrong again as usual to start a crusade there too. Once all the troops leave Iraq, they will be in a civil war. Let not have Bush Jr. crusades put us all into a econmic sunset.
Posted by phl | 04.11.09, 18:28 GMT
well ryan, you must be up to no good cos i have never felt threatened by our lads
Posted by dm | 04.11.09, 13:07 GMT
You can't possibly fight against an enemy when you do not know who that enemy is. U K forces are in an impossible situation with poor kit, lack of supplies and not enough helicopters etc Blair and Brown's Government who put them there naturally constantly try to cover this up while lining their own pockets over the years with 'expenses' money!.
Brown continually informs me that our troops are dying in Afghanistan to keep our streets safer! Well let's clean up our own backyard before we send good guys to die at the hands of the Taliban in a foreign land. Who am I more afraid of?- the Taliban, or an assorted band of foreign drunks, drunk drivers, thugs, thieves, conmen, murderers, rapists and paedophiles that our Government's lax border controls have allowed in over the last ten years, to add to the criminality already created by our own home grown lot of baddies.
Posted by T J McClean | 04.11.09, 13:02 GMT
On one side I feel that the comments made here are not of the spirit with which we won two world wars. Also, for those who (rather shortsightedly) say they never felt threatened from this region - where do you think the training camps are? and do you think the Taliban are simply going to limit themselves to Afghanistan and Pakistan? Would the Nazis have been satisfied with just Poland?
On the other side I know that Alexander the Great, the Soviet army and ourselves have never conquered these people. The only way we can win this war is with proper equipment (sort those helicopters out NOW!) and with "hearts and minds" diplomacy.
Sort it out now Gordon.
Posted by Centaur | 04.11.09, 12:32 GMT
This British involvement in Afghanistan is a complete and utter waste of time and lives. We learn nothing from history. The British Army has been fighting the Afghans for nearly 200 years now, you'd think we'd have realised the futility of it by now.
In no way am I attacking the bravery of our soldiers, just the inept politicians who waste their lives !
My grandfather was in the Inniskilling Fusiliers, stationed in Almorah, India, during the 1920's. He told his family in Armagh what a futile effort it was to control the Afghans back then. Regimental history tells that the 'The Skins' were fighting the Afghans back in the 1860's, in the Second Afghan War. Nowadays - this must be about the Fifth Afghan War - we're no nearer to imposing our Western ideas and morals on a tribal society.
Just Get Out and stop wasting British lives to ingratiate ourselves with the Americans !
Posted by Dave | 04.11.09, 11:50 GMT
bring all british troops home
Posted by di | 04.11.09, 11:06 GMT
but above all to make Britain safer from the terrorism and extremism which continues to threaten us from the border areas of Afghanistan and Pakistan
I live in Britain, in fact I live in the English capital. I've never once felt threatened by anything from the border areas of Afghanistan or Pakistan. I have however, on numerous occasions felt and been threatened by British forces.
Posted by Ryan | 04.11.09, 11:03 GMT
Yet more blood on Gordon Brown's hands. When will he have had enough, and bring our troops back home again?
Posted by Gary Sutherland | 04.11.09, 10:58 GMT
As the recent events surrounding rigged elections and the withdrawal of Abdullah Abdullah from the re-run, the troops are being used to prop up a corrupt regime. I am sceptical about the so-called "War on Terror" excuse about keeping our streets safe as the terror plots seem to originate in Pakistan and training has shifted to Somalia. The soldiers should come home and the money saved (seeing Brown is interested in that) should be used to increase our intelligence and security capability.
Posted by lumina | 04.11.09, 09:55 GMT
gordons commitment has been zilch up to now, his crocodile tears wont bring these men back
Posted by w. gould | 04.11.09, 09:07 GMT