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Bomb safeguards 'failed' troops Bomb safeguards 'failed' troops
(about 4 hours later)
The family of a British soldier killed by an improvised explosive device (IED) in Afghanistan has said the Ministry of Defence (MoD) failed to protect troops.The family of a British soldier killed by an improvised explosive device (IED) in Afghanistan has said the Ministry of Defence (MoD) failed to protect troops.
And a former MI6 official says Taliban militants are using fertiliser from aid projects for IEDs.And a former MI6 official says Taliban militants are using fertiliser from aid projects for IEDs.
Serjeant Paul McAleese's family claims his regiment did not have enough men or the right kit to stop the Taliban planting IEDs daily between two bases. Sergeant Paul McAleese's family claims his regiment did not have enough men or the right kit to stop the Taliban planting IEDs daily between two bases.
In December, PM Gordon Brown said £150m would be spent on tackling IEDs.In December, PM Gordon Brown said £150m would be spent on tackling IEDs.
The son of John McAleese, who led the SAS raid on the Iranian embassy in London in 1980, Sjt McAleese, 29, of 2nd Battalion The Rifles, went to the aid of Pte Johnathon Young, 18, of 3rd Battalion The Yorkshire Regiment. The son of John McAleese, who led the SAS raid on the Iranian embassy in London in 1980, Sgt McAleese, 29, of 2nd Battalion The Rifles, went to the aid of Pte Johnathon Young, 18, of 3rd Battalion The Yorkshire Regiment.
Pte Young, from Hull, was blown up during a patrol which set out last August from a forward operating base called Wishtan on the outskirts of the town of Sangin, in Helmand Province. Wishtan was close to another base called Inkaman.Pte Young, from Hull, was blown up during a patrol which set out last August from a forward operating base called Wishtan on the outskirts of the town of Sangin, in Helmand Province. Wishtan was close to another base called Inkaman.
Bombs 'planted daily'Bombs 'planted daily'
Sjt McAleese's father-in-law, Stephen Minter, who served with the British Army in Northern Ireland, told the BBC that Pte Young had been blown into an area which had not been cleared of IEDs as he knelt down to check a device uncovered by a metal detector. Sgt McAleese's father-in-law, Stephen Minter, who served with the British Army in Northern Ireland, told the BBC that Pte Young had been blown into an area which had not been cleared of IEDs as he knelt down to check a device uncovered by a metal detector.
He claims that when the patrol made a radio call for an IED team, they were told it could not arrive for two hours because of a lack of helicopters.He claims that when the patrol made a radio call for an IED team, they were told it could not arrive for two hours because of a lack of helicopters.
"They couldn't wait for a couple of hours because these IEDs are normally a prelude to a Taliban ambush," Mr Minter told BBC File on 4."They couldn't wait for a couple of hours because these IEDs are normally a prelude to a Taliban ambush," Mr Minter told BBC File on 4.
Sjt McAleese, from Hereford, who was known to his friends as "Mac", got the metal detector from their quad bike and cleared a path to recover Pte Young but, while he was retrieving the body, he triggered the IED which killed him. Sgt McAleese, from Hereford, who was known to his friends as "Mac", got the metal detector from their quad bike and cleared a path to recover Pte Young but, while he was retrieving the body, he triggered the IED which killed him.
"Wishtan and Inkaman were only 300m apart and the area in between was where they patrolled and was booby-trapped with IEDs - when Mac was there they didn't have any way of monitoring the area between," said Mr Minter."Wishtan and Inkaman were only 300m apart and the area in between was where they patrolled and was booby-trapped with IEDs - when Mac was there they didn't have any way of monitoring the area between," said Mr Minter.
He claimed this was due to a "lack of monitoring equipment such as CCTV and a lack of manpower to physically have men observing the ground 24 hours a day".He claimed this was due to a "lack of monitoring equipment such as CCTV and a lack of manpower to physically have men observing the ground 24 hours a day".
THE IED THREAT 1. ROADSIDE IED: Hidden insurgent detonates device by wire2. REMOTE DETONATION: Bombs can also be set off by radio or mobile phone signal3. LANDMINE: Buried below the road surface, detonated by pressure of passing vehicleTHE IED THREAT 1. ROADSIDE IED: Hidden insurgent detonates device by wire2. REMOTE DETONATION: Bombs can also be set off by radio or mobile phone signal3. LANDMINE: Buried below the road surface, detonated by pressure of passing vehicle
Mr Minter added: "He [Sjt McAleese] told me basically the devices were planted on a daily basis, as soon as the IEDs were found and dug up, more were planted because of this lack of observation. Mr Minter added: "He [Sgt McAleese] told me basically the devices were planted on a daily basis, as soon as the IEDs were found and dug up, more were planted because of this lack of observation.
"Once darkness fell it was no man's land so the enemy had carte blanche to come in and plant some more."Once darkness fell it was no man's land so the enemy had carte blanche to come in and plant some more.
"It was like groundhog day, every day they were putting their lives in their hands.""It was like groundhog day, every day they were putting their lives in their hands."
Mr Minter said he had written to the prime minister, asking: "Why do you send people to an area known to be infested with IEDs without the equipment to detect and defuse them - it's a waste of life, our forces, our men."Mr Minter said he had written to the prime minister, asking: "Why do you send people to an area known to be infested with IEDs without the equipment to detect and defuse them - it's a waste of life, our forces, our men."
Prime minister's pledgePrime minister's pledge
Armed Forces Minister Bill Rammell said his heart went to out to anyone who had lost a loved one in Afghanistan.Armed Forces Minister Bill Rammell said his heart went to out to anyone who had lost a loved one in Afghanistan.
"But if you engage in warfare, and it's bloody with the Taliban, you cannot guarantee against loss of life," he said."But if you engage in warfare, and it's bloody with the Taliban, you cannot guarantee against loss of life," he said.
He rejected claims by Sjt McAleese's family that a lack of equipment or manpower shortage had contributed to his death. He rejected claims by Sgt McAleese's family that a lack of equipment or manpower shortage had contributed to his death.
Mr Rammell said dealing with IEDs was the government and the Army's highest priority in Afghanistan.Mr Rammell said dealing with IEDs was the government and the Army's highest priority in Afghanistan.
He told the BBC: "I do not believe the items you have listed [the lack of helicopter support or CCTV protection] were accurate, but whenever there is a fatality there is an investigation and an inquest to learn lessons that need to be applied and that process is ongoing."He told the BBC: "I do not believe the items you have listed [the lack of helicopter support or CCTV protection] were accurate, but whenever there is a fatality there is an investigation and an inquest to learn lessons that need to be applied and that process is ongoing."
Richard Barrett, former head of counter-terrorism at MI6, told File on 4 that one of the ways the Taliban obtained fertiliser for explosives was to commandeer supplies given as aid to farmers to persuade them to grow wheat rather than poppies.Richard Barrett, former head of counter-terrorism at MI6, told File on 4 that one of the ways the Taliban obtained fertiliser for explosives was to commandeer supplies given as aid to farmers to persuade them to grow wheat rather than poppies.
"There have been cases, not very many, where fertiliser provided by aid organisations had ended up in Taliban safe houses," said Mr Barrett, who is now part of a team monitoring the work of the United Nations Security Council Sanctions Committee, which targets al-Qaeda and the Taliban."There have been cases, not very many, where fertiliser provided by aid organisations had ended up in Taliban safe houses," said Mr Barrett, who is now part of a team monitoring the work of the United Nations Security Council Sanctions Committee, which targets al-Qaeda and the Taliban.
In December, Gordon Brown announced an extra £50m a year for the next three years to be spent on equipment aimed at countering the IED threat, such as hi-tech mine detectors.In December, Gordon Brown announced an extra £50m a year for the next three years to be spent on equipment aimed at countering the IED threat, such as hi-tech mine detectors.
Mr Rammell told the BBC that the money would also pay for an increase in the number of bomb disposal experts.Mr Rammell told the BBC that the money would also pay for an increase in the number of bomb disposal experts.
"We have been doing everything possible to increase the numbers, we announced in April a 200-strong specialist force, we announced an extra £150m, there is no area that is higher priority for us," he said."We have been doing everything possible to increase the numbers, we announced in April a 200-strong specialist force, we announced an extra £150m, there is no area that is higher priority for us," he said.
"But we are facing a bloody and a ruthless enemy that have increased the numbers of devices they plant and we are trying to respond to that.""But we are facing a bloody and a ruthless enemy that have increased the numbers of devices they plant and we are trying to respond to that."
File on 4 is on BBC Radio 4 on Tuesday, 2 February , at 2000 GMT, repeated Sunday, 7 February, at 1700 GMT. You can also listen via the BBC iPlayer after broadcast or download the podcast.File on 4 is on BBC Radio 4 on Tuesday, 2 February , at 2000 GMT, repeated Sunday, 7 February, at 1700 GMT. You can also listen via the BBC iPlayer after broadcast or download the podcast.