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Afghan shooting: Coroner says UK failed 'to avoid risk' Afghan shooting: Soldiers were 'unlawfully killed'
(40 minutes later)
The UK failed in its duty to five British soldiers who were shot and killed by a rogue Afghan policeman in 2009, coroner David Ridley has said. Verdicts of unlawful killing have been recorded on five British soldiers who were shot and killed by a rogue Afghan policeman in 2009.
But the Wiltshire and Swindon coroner David Ridley said the government had not failed in its duty to "avoid risk".
Concerns had been raised before the attack over the behaviour of the gunman, who later fled a checkpoint in Helmand province's Nad Ali region.Concerns had been raised before the attack over the behaviour of the gunman, who later fled a checkpoint in Helmand province's Nad Ali region.
The Wiltshire and Swindon coroner said security forces should have been able to remove suspect Afghan officers. The gunman, named only as Gulbuddin, escaped afterwards.
Recording unlawful killing verdicts, he said the UK had failed to "avoid risk". Brigadier James Cowan, the then senior commander in Helmand, told the inquest the deaths had been shocking but had given him enough leverage to get the authorities to reform the Afghan National Police (ANP).
He said the Nato-led International Security Assistance Force (Isaf) needed to be given powers to remove Afghan officers, like Gulbuddin, who raised concerns.
Killer escaped
The coroner said Warrant Officer Darren Chant - one of those who died - did not have such an authority.
Several of the victims' families expressed amazement their loved ones had been put in harm's way.
The gunman, named only as Gulbuddin, escaped afterwards and has never been brought to justice.
The inquest heard the attack could have been linked to a "blood feud" between an Afghan National Police (ANP) commander and the Taliban.
Three of the soldiers killed were Grenadier Guards - Warrant Officer Class 1 Darren Chant, 40, Sergeant Matthew Telford, 37 and Guardsman Jimmy Major, 18.Three of the soldiers killed were Grenadier Guards - Warrant Officer Class 1 Darren Chant, 40, Sergeant Matthew Telford, 37 and Guardsman Jimmy Major, 18.
The other two killed were Royal Military Police - Corporal Steven Boote, 22 and Corporal Nicholas Webster-Smith, 24.The other two killed were Royal Military Police - Corporal Steven Boote, 22 and Corporal Nicholas Webster-Smith, 24.
'Rotten to the core'
Six British soldiers and two Afghan policemen were wounded in the attack.Six British soldiers and two Afghan policemen were wounded in the attack.
The coroner had been asked to make a ruling about whether the soldiers' rights under Article 2 of the European Convention on Human Rights had been breached.
The article gives an obligation on the UK to protect life but Mr Ridley ruled that the UK had not failed because W01 Chant had not had "effective control" of the checkpoint.
Cpl Webster-Smith's family said he had been "murdered" and in a statement after the inquest added: "We remain convinced this was not an isolated incident by a lone gunman but a co-ordinated attack by the Taliban."
'Rotten to the core'
Cpl Boote's mother, Margaret Boote, and his girlfriend, Emma Murray, made a statement afterwards in which they said: "We are convinced that the investigation has been thorough and we have had all of our questions answered.Cpl Boote's mother, Margaret Boote, and his girlfriend, Emma Murray, made a statement afterwards in which they said: "We are convinced that the investigation has been thorough and we have had all of our questions answered.
"The only person to blame for Steven's death is the rogue Afghan National Policeman who committed this cowardly act and we still won't know what motivated him but we would now like to be left alone to grieve in peace.""The only person to blame for Steven's death is the rogue Afghan National Policeman who committed this cowardly act and we still won't know what motivated him but we would now like to be left alone to grieve in peace."
The coroner said it was known there were problems with the ANP Lieutenant-Colonel Charles Walker had described them as "rotten to the core". The coroner said it was known there were problems with the ANP and Lieutenant-Colonel Charles Walker had described them as "rotten to the core".
He said WO Chant had raised concerns about Gulbuddin's behaviour, discipline and drug taking before the attack. The ANP were poorly paid and many smoked opium and cannabis, were insubordinate and ill-disciplined and would often swear at the British soldiers, the inquest heard.
Mr Ridley said WO Chant discussed these issues with the ANP commander before the attack and was told they would be addressed. Strange behaviour
The coroner says WO Chant was highly regarded and if he had not been killed he would have been considered for the top sergeant major position in the British Army at Sandhurst. The inquest heard Gulbuddin was known as "Errol Flynn" or "Pretty Boy" by the British troops because of his moustache and camp behaviour.
In the weeks before the shootings he had touched the bottoms of several soldiers and grabbed one in a headlock.
The inquest heard he was in a "strop" on the day of the shootings, having been told off for not wearing his police-issue hat.
He said WO1 Chant had raised concerns about Gulbuddin's behaviour, discipline and drug taking before the attack.
Mr Ridley said WO1 Chant discussed these issues with the ANP commander before the attack and was told they would be addressed.
The coroner says WO1 Chant was highly regarded and if he had not been killed he would have been considered for the top sergeant major position in the British Army at Sandhurst.