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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| US pilots who killed British soldier thought they were attacking Taliban | US pilots who killed British soldier thought they were attacking Taliban |
| (about 1 month later) | |
| US Apache helicopter pilots who mistakenly fired on a UK base in Afghanistan killing a 23-year-old soldier were acting on information passed on to them by the British Army, an inquest heard on Tuesday. | US Apache helicopter pilots who mistakenly fired on a UK base in Afghanistan killing a 23-year-old soldier were acting on information passed on to them by the British Army, an inquest heard on Tuesday. |
| Lance Corporal Christopher Roney, of 3rd Battalion The Rifles, died from head injuries while serving at Patrol Base Almas, in Sangin, Helmand, in December 2009. | Lance Corporal Christopher Roney, of 3rd Battalion The Rifles, died from head injuries while serving at Patrol Base Almas, in Sangin, Helmand, in December 2009. |
| As night fell, the base was rocked by a huge Taliban bomb and the platoon based there was fighting off an attack when two US gunships were called in to help. But they fired on the base – despite the flagpole, machine gun, barbed wire and men in uniform – thinking it was an enemy position. | As night fell, the base was rocked by a huge Taliban bomb and the platoon based there was fighting off an attack when two US gunships were called in to help. But they fired on the base – despite the flagpole, machine gun, barbed wire and men in uniform – thinking it was an enemy position. |
| Statements from four unnamed pilots and co-pilots were read out at the inquest at Sunderland Civic Centre. | Statements from four unnamed pilots and co-pilots were read out at the inquest at Sunderland Civic Centre. |
| Coroner Derek Winter heard how the crews of the Apaches, which had the call-signs Luger 67 and Luger 61, were flying in the area when they saw the huge explosion from the Taliban bomb, followed by a tracer fire. | Coroner Derek Winter heard how the crews of the Apaches, which had the call-signs Luger 67 and Luger 61, were flying in the area when they saw the huge explosion from the Taliban bomb, followed by a tracer fire. |
| British commanders asked for the Apaches to assist, and a series of grid references were passed on. | British commanders asked for the Apaches to assist, and a series of grid references were passed on. |
| Luger 67 and 61 were directed to a compound and were told to look for three men on a roof – who were believed to be insurgents but were actually British soldiers fighting off the Taliban, the inquest heard. | Luger 67 and 61 were directed to a compound and were told to look for three men on a roof – who were believed to be insurgents but were actually British soldiers fighting off the Taliban, the inquest heard. |
| The crews were authorised to use 30mm chain gun fire, and Luger 67 passed over the compound twice as Luger 61 covered. | The crews were authorised to use 30mm chain gun fire, and Luger 67 passed over the compound twice as Luger 61 covered. |
| It was seven minutes after the first pass that the horrific mistake was realised. The Apaches were called off and waited in the area while other helicopters were summoned to evacuate casualties. | It was seven minutes after the first pass that the horrific mistake was realised. The Apaches were called off and waited in the area while other helicopters were summoned to evacuate casualties. |
| The coroner heard how 200 rounds were fired from the Apache, leaving seven men badly injured. Roney could not survive his injuries and died the next day. | The coroner heard how 200 rounds were fired from the Apache, leaving seven men badly injured. Roney could not survive his injuries and died the next day. |
| Earlier, the inquest heard how the attack was called off when the dreadful error was realised. | Earlier, the inquest heard how the attack was called off when the dreadful error was realised. |
| Warrant Officer John Pepper said he was in the operations room some distance away from Almas, where he was handling information coming in from members of the battlegroup. | Warrant Officer John Pepper said he was in the operations room some distance away from Almas, where he was handling information coming in from members of the battlegroup. |
| He watched one strafing run on a video link, then Captain Christopher Dadd became aware of the horrific reality of the situation. | He watched one strafing run on a video link, then Captain Christopher Dadd became aware of the horrific reality of the situation. |
| Pepper told the inquest: "Capt Dadd shouted: 'Stop, stop, stop.' | Pepper told the inquest: "Capt Dadd shouted: 'Stop, stop, stop.' |
| "That was when everyone realised in the ops room they were attacking Patrol Base Almas. | "That was when everyone realised in the ops room they were attacking Patrol Base Almas. |
| "He had his head in his hands." | "He had his head in his hands." |
| At Patrol Base Almas, Captain Palmer Winstanley, who led the platoon, wept when he contacted the ops room to tell them to call off the Apaches, the inquest heard. | At Patrol Base Almas, Captain Palmer Winstanley, who led the platoon, wept when he contacted the ops room to tell them to call off the Apaches, the inquest heard. |
| Lance Corporal Johnny Cassell told the hearing: "It seemed like he was in tears, saying: 'Stop the Apaches, stop the Apaches.'" | Lance Corporal Johnny Cassell told the hearing: "It seemed like he was in tears, saying: 'Stop the Apaches, stop the Apaches.'" |
| Once the Apaches were called off – leaving 11 men injured on the ground – an air strike was called in on the enemy position and a 500lb bomb brought a halt to the Taliban attack. Major Timothy Harris told the inquest how commanders saw the Taliban attack – which followed a serious raid on Almas two nights before – as a chance to hit back, though he did not think there was a "gung-ho" attitude | Once the Apaches were called off – leaving 11 men injured on the ground – an air strike was called in on the enemy position and a 500lb bomb brought a halt to the Taliban attack. Major Timothy Harris told the inquest how commanders saw the Taliban attack – which followed a serious raid on Almas two nights before – as a chance to hit back, though he did not think there was a "gung-ho" attitude |
| The hearing was adjourned and continues on Wednesday. | The hearing was adjourned and continues on Wednesday. |
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