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Gunman shoots dead two UK troops 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. |
One was from the Royal Marines and the other was from the Adjutant General's Corps (Staff & Personnel Support). Their families have been told. | |
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. | |
'Assailant killed' | |
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." |
Shadow defence secretary Jim Murphy said the victims were in the "thoughts of all of us". | |
Mr Hammond made the announcement during a regular session of defence questions. | Mr Hammond made the announcement during a regular session of defence questions. |
Spokesman for the UK's Task Force Helmand, Maj Ian Lawrence, said: "Sadly, I must report that a Royal Marine and a soldier from the Adjutant General's Corps were shot and killed by an Afghan Army soldier at the main entrance to Lashkar Gah Main Operating Base." | |
"The thoughts and condolences of everyone serving in the Task Force are with their families and friends." | |
'Opened fire' | |
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. | 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. | 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 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 Taliban have claimed that the gunman was "their man". |
The attack appears to be the latest in a number of "green on blue" incidents - where members of the Afghan security forces turn their weapons on their international colleagues or trainers. | |
The number of these incidents has risen since the inadvertent burning of Korans at a US base in February. | |
Tensions were inflamed further by the killing of 17 Afghan civilians earlier this month. | |
US Staff Sgt Robert Bales, 38, has been charged with killing nine Afghan children and eight adults in their homes in Kandahar province on 11 March. |