Two Britons killed in Baghdad car-bomb blast are named

Published on 15/06/2004 13:28

THE two Britons killed by a car bomb in Baghdad have been named.

One of the victims was former paratrooper Keith Butler, who fought in the Falklands and completed tours of duty in Northern Ireland, it was confirmed today.

The former colour sergeant, aged 46, died with his colleague, John Poole, as they acted as security guards for three foreign workers involved in the reconstruction of the Iraqi electricity industry.

The Foreign Office confirmed that Mr Butler’s next of kin have been informed of his death.

Both men were working for London-based Olive Security, which employs former members of the UK Special Forces and has around 300 members of staff in Iraq.

Mr Butler is understood to have served with 3 Para Battalion of the Parachute Regiment.

Mr Poole, 44, was from the West Midlands, but it is not known if he had lived in the region recently.

No further details were immediately available.

An Olive Security spokesman said the families of the two men had requested that their details be kept private.

The Ministry of Defence confirmed that Mr Butler served as a paratrooper and left the armed forces in 2003.

They were among 13 people who died when a convoy of three 4x4 vehicles was blown up close to Tahir Square in central Baghdad at around 8.30am yesterday morning.

The blast was reported to have destroyed eight vehicles and reduced nearby shops and a two-storey house to rubble.