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| British soldier and Royal Marine die in gunfight with Afghan police officer | British soldier and Royal Marine die in gunfight with Afghan police officer |
| (about 1 month later) | |
| A female British soldier and a Royal Marine who died in an exchange of gunfire with a member of the Afghan police while on patrol in Helmand have been named as Channing Day, 25, from Comber, County Down, Northern Ireland, and Corporal David O'Connor. | A female British soldier and a Royal Marine who died in an exchange of gunfire with a member of the Afghan police while on patrol in Helmand have been named as Channing Day, 25, from Comber, County Down, Northern Ireland, and Corporal David O'Connor. |
| Day, from 3 Medical Regiment, and O'Connor, 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. | Day, from 3 Medical Regiment, and O'Connor, 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 MoD said it was still unclear what 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. | The MoD said it was still unclear what 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. |
| 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. | 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. |
| The MoD could not confirm details and said it did not want to speculate about the causes until investigators had provided a fuller report. | The MoD could not confirm details and said it did not want to speculate about the causes until investigators had provided a fuller report. |
| 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." | 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." |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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." | 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." |
| The deaths take the total number of UK service personnel to have died since operations in Afghanistan began to 435. | The deaths take the total number of UK service personnel to have died since operations in Afghanistan began to 435. |
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