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Two British troops shot dead in Afghanistan | Two British troops shot dead in Afghanistan |
(40 minutes later) | |
Two British service personnel have been killed by a gunman wearing an Afghan army uniform, Defence Secretary Philip Hammond has said. | Two British service personnel have been killed by a gunman wearing an Afghan army uniform, Defence Secretary Philip Hammond has said. |
The shootings took place at the British military HQ in Lashkar Gah in Helmand province, southern Afghanistan. | The shootings took place at the British military HQ in Lashkar Gah in Helmand province, southern Afghanistan. |
Nato said the attacker was then shot dead by its soldiers. The families of the two personnel are being informed. | Nato said the attacker was then shot dead by its soldiers. The families of the two personnel are being informed. |
A total of 407 British troops have been killed in Afghanistan since military operations began in 2001. | A total of 407 British troops have been killed in Afghanistan since military operations began in 2001. |
In a statement to the Commons, Mr Hammond said: "Our thoughts, as ever, are with their families, for whom this will be a deeply personal tragedy. | In a statement to the Commons, Mr Hammond said: "Our thoughts, as ever, are with their families, for whom this will be a deeply personal tragedy. |
"Details of the incident are still emerging but it appears that a member of the Afghan National Army opened fire at the entrance gate to the British headquarters in Lashkar Gar city, killing the two British service personnel. | "Details of the incident are still emerging but it appears that a member of the Afghan National Army opened fire at the entrance gate to the British headquarters in Lashkar Gar city, killing the two British service personnel. |
"The assailant was killed by return fire." | "The assailant was killed by return fire." |
Mr Hammond made the announcement during a regular session of defence questions. | |
Earlier a spokesman for the governor of Helmand said the shooting followed a "verbal clash" between Afghan and Nato soldiers, and the Afghan involved was from Kunar province. | |
Lt Col Jimmie Cummings, spokesman for Nato's International Security Assistance Force (Isaf) in Kabul, told the BBC: "An individual wearing an Afghan national army uniform turned his weapon against Isaf force service members in southern Afghanistan today, killing two of our service members. | |
"The individual who opened fire was killed when coalition forces returned fire, and right now a joint Afghan and Isaf team are investigating this." | |
The Taliban have claimed that the gunman was "their man". | |
The deaths come after 17 Afghan civilians were killed in an attack for which a US soldier has been charged. | The deaths come after 17 Afghan civilians were killed in an attack for which a US soldier has been charged. |