Five British troops killed in Afghan horror

Published on Wednesday 4 November 2009 08:55

FIVE British soldiers have been killed by a rogue Afghan policeman, British and Afghan officials said today.

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.

"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."

The MoD said the attack is "subject to investigation".

The attack makes this the bloodiest year for the armed forces since the Falklands War. Up until now, the worst period since the Falklands was 2007, when 89 members of the armed forces died on active service. The latest deaths bring this year's figure to 94.