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| Soldier killed in rescue named | Soldier killed in rescue named |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| The Ministry of Defence has named the soldier killed during the rescue of a journalist kidnapped in Afghanistan. | The Ministry of Defence has named the soldier killed during the rescue of a journalist kidnapped in Afghanistan. |
| A spokesman said the dead man was Corporal John Harrison, 29, who served with the Parachute Regiment. | A spokesman said the dead man was Corporal John Harrison, 29, who served with the Parachute Regiment. |
| Earlier Downing Street defended the decision to rescue New York Times reporter Stephen Farrell, saying it was "the best chance of saving life". | Earlier Downing Street defended the decision to rescue New York Times reporter Stephen Farrell, saying it was "the best chance of saving life". |
| The mission in northern Afghanistan left Cpl Harrison, an Afghan journalist and two civilians dead. | The mission in northern Afghanistan left Cpl Harrison, an Afghan journalist and two civilians dead. |
| In a statement, Cpl Harrison's family said they were "absolutely heartbroken". | In a statement, Cpl Harrison's family said they were "absolutely heartbroken". |
| They added: "John was a wonderful son, brother and a dedicated soldier who was greatly loved and cherished by all his family and friends." | They added: "John was a wonderful son, brother and a dedicated soldier who was greatly loved and cherished by all his family and friends." |
| Stephen Farrell (left) and Sultan Munadi were held in Kunduz | Stephen Farrell (left) and Sultan Munadi were held in Kunduz |
| His commanding officer described him as "immensely capable, self-effacing and highly likeable soldier with an irrepressible humour". | His commanding officer described him as "immensely capable, self-effacing and highly likeable soldier with an irrepressible humour". |
| An earlier, unsuccessful, raid took place within earshot of the captives, it has emerged. | An earlier, unsuccessful, raid took place within earshot of the captives, it has emerged. |
| The earlier raid was in the wrong location but close enough to alert Mr Farrell's kidnappers, the BBC's security correspondent Frank Gardner has learned. | The earlier raid was in the wrong location but close enough to alert Mr Farrell's kidnappers, the BBC's security correspondent Frank Gardner has learned. |
| He said: "There was in fact an earlier raid before dawn on Tuesday put in by British forces to a location where they thought he was being held. They were just out, they were slightly wrong, but it was close enough for the Taliban who were holding Stephen Farrell to hear this. | |
| "They captured some Taliban on the Tuesday morning. A decision was then subsequently taken to go in a second time." | |
| It was over. Sultan was dead. He had died trying to help me, right up to the very last seconds of his life Stephen Farrell Farrell's New York Times blog Q&A: Hostage rescue raids Reporting from the danger zones | It was over. Sultan was dead. He had died trying to help me, right up to the very last seconds of his life Stephen Farrell Farrell's New York Times blog Q&A: Hostage rescue raids Reporting from the danger zones |
| A government spokesman said the final decision was taken by Foreign Secretary David Miliband and Defence Secretary Bob Ainsworth. | A government spokesman said the final decision was taken by Foreign Secretary David Miliband and Defence Secretary Bob Ainsworth. |
| It followed consultation with Prime Minister Gordon Brown and advice from the government's emergency committee, Cobra. | It followed consultation with Prime Minister Gordon Brown and advice from the government's emergency committee, Cobra. |
| Afghan journalists have blamed Nato troops for the death of their colleague, Sultan Munadi, a journalist who was working as a translator for Mr Farrell. | Afghan journalists have blamed Nato troops for the death of their colleague, Sultan Munadi, a journalist who was working as a translator for Mr Farrell. |
| The Afghan journalists have also suggested the raid was unnecessary because negotiations to free the captives were progressing. | The Afghan journalists have also suggested the raid was unnecessary because negotiations to free the captives were progressing. |
| 'Enormous repercussions' | 'Enormous repercussions' |
| Our correspondent said that had been denied by sources in the UK government: "That's not the picture they recognise at all. | Our correspondent said that had been denied by sources in the UK government: "That's not the picture they recognise at all. |
| I would not leave Afghanistan. I have passed the very darkest times of my country, when there was war and insecurity Sultan Munadi Mr Munadi's New York Times blog | I would not leave Afghanistan. I have passed the very darkest times of my country, when there was war and insecurity Sultan Munadi Mr Munadi's New York Times blog |
| "They say that negotiations were going nowhere and that once they had the location of where he was, given that he was being moved around a lot they needed to move swiftly in this early period. | "They say that negotiations were going nowhere and that once they had the location of where he was, given that he was being moved around a lot they needed to move swiftly in this early period. |
| "The big worry I think for them was that if they didn't go in and he was then moved off and a month later pops up in a Taliban or al-Qaeda video in an orange jumpsuit the repercussions would have been enormous." | "The big worry I think for them was that if they didn't go in and he was then moved off and a month later pops up in a Taliban or al-Qaeda video in an orange jumpsuit the repercussions would have been enormous." |
| The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has said it acted as a neutral intermediary to seek the journalists' unconditional release. | The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has said it acted as a neutral intermediary to seek the journalists' unconditional release. |
| Jessica Barry from the ICRC said the group had been "in contact with different parties". | Jessica Barry from the ICRC said the group had been "in contact with different parties". |
| Writing in the New York Times, Mr Farrell said he thought there had been an earlier attempt to rescue them. | Writing in the New York Times, Mr Farrell said he thought there had been an earlier attempt to rescue them. |
| He said: "On the third night, just before the 3am meal - Muslims breakfast very early to comply with the Ramadan daytime fast - there was a scare. Aerial activity intensified, and there were loud explosions in nearby fields. | He said: "On the third night, just before the 3am meal - Muslims breakfast very early to comply with the Ramadan daytime fast - there was a scare. Aerial activity intensified, and there were loud explosions in nearby fields. |
| "We and the Taliban, took this as an attempt to free us. They fled with us in minutes, racing across open fields in the dark until they found another refuge." | "We and the Taliban, took this as an attempt to free us. They fled with us in minutes, racing across open fields in the dark until they found another refuge." |
| Mr Farrell and Mr Munadi were kidnapped travelling to Kunduz in the north of the country. | Mr Farrell and Mr Munadi were kidnapped travelling to Kunduz in the north of the country. |
| They were heading to the scene of a Nato air strike on two hijacked fuel tankers in which a number of bystanders were killed. | They were heading to the scene of a Nato air strike on two hijacked fuel tankers in which a number of bystanders were killed. |
| Military insiders have questioned whether going to an area where anger against the West had been caused by the civilian deaths in the Nato strike was wise. | Military insiders have questioned whether going to an area where anger against the West had been caused by the civilian deaths in the Nato strike was wise. |
| But Mr Farrell, 46, said his Afghan drivers advised him the road "appeared safe". | But Mr Farrell, 46, said his Afghan drivers advised him the road "appeared safe". |
| Civilian deaths | Civilian deaths |
| Two Afghan civilians also died in the Nato raid, a local governor told the BBC. | Two Afghan civilians also died in the Nato raid, a local governor told the BBC. |
| Vincent Brossell from Reporters Without Borders | Vincent Brossell from Reporters Without Borders |
| A resident of Char Dara district in Kunduz province, Mohammad Nabi, reportedly said his brother's wife was killed when his home was raided. | A resident of Char Dara district in Kunduz province, Mohammad Nabi, reportedly said his brother's wife was killed when his home was raided. |
| The Taliban had turned up there on Tuesday night with their two captives, demanding shelter, Mr Nabi told Reuters. | The Taliban had turned up there on Tuesday night with their two captives, demanding shelter, Mr Nabi told Reuters. |
| Mr Farrell has thanked the soldiers who saved him, saying "It wasn't, and never will be, enough". | Mr Farrell has thanked the soldiers who saved him, saying "It wasn't, and never will be, enough". |
| He also paid tribute to his colleague Mr Munadi, who died "trying to help me". | He also paid tribute to his colleague Mr Munadi, who died "trying to help me". |
| He said: "I did not know whether the bullets came from in front, to his right or to his left," he said. | He said: "I did not know whether the bullets came from in front, to his right or to his left," he said. |
| "It was over. Sultan was dead. He had died trying to help me, right up to the very last seconds of his life." | "It was over. Sultan was dead. He had died trying to help me, right up to the very last seconds of his life." |
| 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 London's 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 London's Times newspaper. |