This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/uk/8246514.stm
The article has changed 36 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Previous version
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
Next version
Version 3 | Version 4 |
---|---|
UK soldier dies in Afghan rescue | UK soldier dies in Afghan rescue |
(about 1 hour later) | |
A UK paratrooper has died in a raid to free a captive reporter in Afghanistan, the Ministry of Defence has confirmed. | |
He was killed in a bid to rescue New York Times reporter Stephen Farrell. Journalist Sultan Munadi and two other Afghan civilians also died in the raid. | He was killed in a bid to rescue New York Times reporter Stephen Farrell. Journalist Sultan Munadi and two other Afghan civilians also died in the raid. |
Mr Farrell, who holds British and Irish nationality, was "extracted" by "a lot of soldiers", the New York Times said. | Mr Farrell, who holds British and Irish nationality, was "extracted" by "a lot of soldiers", the New York Times said. |
Prime Minister Gordon Brown praised the "breathtaking heroism" of those involved in the rescue operation. | Prime Minister Gordon Brown praised the "breathtaking heroism" of those involved in the rescue operation. |
The soldier's next of kin have been informed, the MoD said, and the number of British soldiers killed in Afghanistan since 2001 is now 213. | The soldier's next of kin have been informed, the MoD said, and the number of British soldiers killed in Afghanistan since 2001 is now 213. |
Flying bullets | Flying bullets |
In a separate incident, two British servicemen were injured when a suicide bomber blew himself up near the entrance to Camp Bastion, the UK's main military base in Helmand province. | In a separate incident, two British servicemen were injured when a suicide bomber blew himself up near the entrance to Camp Bastion, the UK's main military base in Helmand province. |
Full list of British fatalities | Full list of British fatalities |
In the rescue mission in Kunduz in northern Afghanistan, Mr Munadi, a journalist working as an interpreter with Mr Farrell, also died along with two other Afghan civilians during a firefight between Nato forces and the Taliban. | In the rescue mission in Kunduz in northern Afghanistan, Mr Munadi, a journalist working as an interpreter with Mr Farrell, also died along with two other Afghan civilians during a firefight between Nato forces and the Taliban. |
Mr Farrell, 46, had travelled there to investigate an air strike last Friday on two hijacked fuel tankers when he was kidnapped. | Mr Farrell, 46, had travelled there to investigate an air strike last Friday on two hijacked fuel tankers when he was kidnapped. |
The New York Times website reported he phoned the foreign editor of the newspaper at about 0030 BST (2330 GMT) on Wednesday and said: "I'm out! I'm free." Mr Farrell said he also called his wife. | The New York Times website reported he phoned the foreign editor of the newspaper at about 0030 BST (2330 GMT) on Wednesday and said: "I'm out! I'm free." Mr Farrell said he also called his wife. |
ANALYSIS Chris Morris, BBC News, Kabul There is concern among the Afghan media community that Stephen Farrell was rescued unharmed, but Sultan Munadi was killed. | ANALYSIS Chris Morris, BBC News, Kabul There is concern among the Afghan media community that Stephen Farrell was rescued unharmed, but Sultan Munadi was killed. |
The head of the Afghan Independent Journalists' Association, Rahimullah Samandar, said the operation showed international forces did not care about Afghan journalists. | The head of the Afghan Independent Journalists' Association, Rahimullah Samandar, said the operation showed international forces did not care about Afghan journalists. |
Now the Afghan Information Minister has called for an inquiry into the circumstances of Sultan Munadi's death. | Now the Afghan Information Minister has called for an inquiry into the circumstances of Sultan Munadi's death. |
In 2007 an Italian journalist was released from captivity, but his Afghan colleague Ajmal Naqshbandi was beheaded by the Taliban after the Afghan government refused to release Taliban prisoners in exchange. | In 2007 an Italian journalist was released from captivity, but his Afghan colleague Ajmal Naqshbandi was beheaded by the Taliban after the Afghan government refused to release Taliban prisoners in exchange. |
The international media rely heavily on Afghan journalists to cover areas of the country which are too dangerous for foreigners to visit. | The international media rely heavily on Afghan journalists to cover areas of the country which are too dangerous for foreigners to visit. |
But in this most recent case, of course, Stephen Farrell had traveled with his colleague to Kunduz where they were kidnapped. | But in this most recent case, of course, Stephen Farrell had traveled with his colleague to Kunduz where they were kidnapped. |
In a telephone call to his newspaper, he said he and his captors had heard helicopters approach before the rescue. | In a telephone call to his newspaper, he said he and his captors had heard helicopters approach before the rescue. |
"We were all in a room, the Talibs all ran, it was obviously a raid," Mr Farrell told the New York Times. "We thought they would kill us. We thought, should we go out?" | "We were all in a room, the Talibs all ran, it was obviously a raid," Mr Farrell told the New York Times. "We thought they would kill us. We thought, should we go out?" |
Mr Farrell said he ran outside with Mr Munadi, who the AFP news agency reports was a 34-year-old man working in Afghanistan while on a break from university studies in Germany. | Mr Farrell said he ran outside with Mr Munadi, who the AFP news agency reports was a 34-year-old man working in Afghanistan while on a break from university studies in Germany. |
"There were bullets all around us. I could hear British and Afghan voices," he continued. | "There were bullets all around us. I could hear British and Afghan voices," he continued. |
The correspondent said father-of-two Mr Munadi advanced shouting: "Journalist! Journalist!" But the translator was shot and collapsed. | The correspondent said father-of-two Mr Munadi advanced shouting: "Journalist! Journalist!" But the translator was shot and collapsed. |
Mr Farrell said he did not know whether the shots had been fired by militants or their rescuers. | Mr Farrell said he did not know whether the shots had been fired by militants or their rescuers. |
"Greatest of courage" | "Greatest of courage" |
He said he dived into a ditch and after a minute or two, shouted: "British hostage!" | He said he dived into a ditch and after a minute or two, shouted: "British hostage!" |
Mr Farrell then heard British voices telling him to come over and as he did, saw the body of Mr Munadi. | Mr Farrell then heard British voices telling him to come over and as he did, saw the body of Mr Munadi. |
Mr Brown hailed the soldier who died for displaying the "greatest of courage", adding: "His bravery will not be forgotten." | Mr Brown hailed the soldier who died for displaying the "greatest of courage", adding: "His bravery will not be forgotten." |
Kidnap reporter 'fearless' class="" href="/2/hi/uk_news/8246632.stm">Reporting from the danger zone | |
The prime minister said the operation had taken place "after extensive planning and consideration" but praised the heroism of those involved, who "knew the high risks they were running". | The prime minister said the operation had taken place "after extensive planning and consideration" but praised the heroism of those involved, who "knew the high risks they were running". |
He also offered his condolences to Mr Munadi's family. | He also offered his condolences to Mr Munadi's family. |
Bill Keller, the executive editor of The New York Times, said: "We're overjoyed that Steve is free, but deeply saddened that his freedom came at such a cost." | Bill Keller, the executive editor of The New York Times, said: "We're overjoyed that Steve is free, but deeply saddened that his freedom came at such a cost." |
This is the second time Mr Farrell has been abducted while on assignment - in 2004 he was kidnapped in the Iraqi city of Falluja while working for the London Times newspaper. | This is the second time Mr Farrell has been abducted while on assignment - in 2004 he was kidnapped in the Iraqi city of Falluja while working for the London Times newspaper. |
Mr Farrell is the second New York Times journalist to be kidnapped in Afghanistan in a year. | Mr Farrell is the second New York Times journalist to be kidnapped in Afghanistan in a year. |
In June, Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter David Rohde and his Afghan colleague were abducted in the Afghan capital, Kabul, and moved across the border to Pakistan from where they escaped. | In June, Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter David Rohde and his Afghan colleague were abducted in the Afghan capital, Kabul, and moved across the border to Pakistan from where they escaped. |