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Royal Marine and female soldier killed in Afghanistan British soldier and Royal Marine die in gunfight with Afghan police officer
(about 5 hours later)
Two British soldiers died in what is believed to have been an exchange of gunfire with a member of the Afghan police while on patrol in Helmand. A female British soldier who died in an exchange of gunfire with a member of the Afghan police while on patrol in Helmand has been named as Channing Day, 25, from Comber, County Down, Northern Ireland. A Royal Marine who died in the same incident was not named.
A Royal Marine, from 40 Commando, and a female soldier from 3 Medical Regiment, were in the Nahr-e Saraj district of the Afghan province when they were killed on Wednesday, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) said. Their families have been informed. Day, from 3 Medical Regiment, and the Royal Marine, from 40 Commando, were in the Nahr-e Saraj district of the Afghan province when they were killed on Wednesday, the Ministry of Defence said. Their families have been informed.
The female soldier is a 25-year-oldfrom Comber in County Down, Northern Ireland. The MoD said it was still unclear what had provoked the shooting and could not rule out that it was another "green on blue" incident, a term used to describe an attack on coalition troops by their supposed Afghan allies.
It is thought the incident was a "green-on-blue" attack, a term used when coalition troops are attacked by their supposed Afghan allies. Reports from Afghanistan suggested the battle started close to a checkpoint when the British patrol mistook the police officer – who was not in uniform – for an insurgent. But the MoD could not confirm the details and said it did not want to speculate about the causes until investigators had provided a fuller report.
A Ministry of Defence spokesman said: "During a UK foot patrol in the Nahr-e Saraj district of Helmand province, there was an exchange of gunfire that resulted in the deaths of a Royal Marine from 40 Commando Royal Marines, a female soldier from 3 Medical Regiment and an Afghan man who is believed to be a member of the Afghan uniformed police but who was not wearing uniform at the time. The UK patrol were not working with any Afghan partners at the time. An MoD spokesman said: "During a UK foot patrol in the Nahr-e Saraj district of Helmand province, there was an exchange of gunfire that resulted in the deaths of a Royal Marine from 40 Commando Royal Marines, a female soldier from 3 Medical Regiment and an Afghan man who is believed to be a member of the Afghan uniformed police but who was not wearing uniform at the time. The UK patrol were not working with any Afghan partners at the time. At this stage we do not know what initiated the exchange of gunfire and an investigation is ongoing. Further details will be provided as information becomes available but at this time the situation remains unclear."
"At this stage we do not know what initiated the exchange of gunfire and an investigation is ongoing. Further details will be provided as information becomes available but at this time the situation remains unclear." More than 50 troops from Nato's International Security and Assistance Force have been killed in "green on blue" incidents this year, a steep rise that has caused anxiety across the western coalition. Some of the shootings have been caused by Taliban infiltration of the Afghan security forces, and others seem to have been provoked by local issues or perceived slights.
A source said on Wednesday night it was understood that the Taliban had issued a statement in Afghanistan suggesting the incident was a green-on-blue attack. Major Laurence Roche, spokesman for Task Force Helmand, said: "I am extremely sorry to announce the deaths of a Royal Marine from 40 Commando and a soldier from 3 Medical Regiment serving with Task Force Helmand. This is dreadful news for all of us serving in Afghanistan. Our sincere condolences go to their families, friends and colleagues at this time of grief."
But the source said the details of the incident were still unclear because the people who knew what had happened were not in a state to write down witness statements or explain what they saw.
Major Laurence Roche, spokesman for Task Force Helmand, said: "I am extremely sorry to announce the deaths of a Royal Marine from 40 Commando and a soldier from 3 Medical Regiment serving with Task Force Helmand.
"This is dreadful news for all of us serving in Afghanistan. Our sincere condolences go to their families, friends and colleagues at this time of grief."
The Ulster Unionist party leader, Mike Nesbitt, paid tribute to the soldier from Comber and expressed sympathy for her family.The Ulster Unionist party leader, Mike Nesbitt, paid tribute to the soldier from Comber and expressed sympathy for her family.
Nesbitt said: "It was with great regret and much sadness that I learned last night of the tragic death of a young woman from Comber who died in the service of her country alongside a colleague from the Royal Marines in the Nahr-e Saraj district of Helmand province, Afghanistan.Nesbitt said: "It was with great regret and much sadness that I learned last night of the tragic death of a young woman from Comber who died in the service of her country alongside a colleague from the Royal Marines in the Nahr-e Saraj district of Helmand province, Afghanistan.
"It is a reminder of the incredible bravery displayed by our armed forces as they risk their lives for our freedom. The debt we owe them is one that can never be repaid. "It is a reminder of the incredible bravery displayed by our armed forces as they risk their lives for our freedom. The debt we owe them is one that can never be repaid."
"On behalf of my party, I would like to extend my deepest and sincerest sympathies to family, friends and colleagues of the fallen soldier." The deaths take the total number of UK service personnel to have died since operations in Afghanistan began to 435.
Their deaths take the total number of UK service members to have died since operations in Afghanistan began in October 2001 to 435.