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British soldier killed in Afghanistan in suspected 'green on blue' attack British soldier killed in Afghanistan in suspected 'green on blue' attack
(35 minutes later)
A suspected member of the Afghan army ran amok at a patrol base in the heart of Helmand province killing a British soldier and injuring six others in what appears to have been another "green on blue" attack. A suspected member of the Afghan army ran amok at a patrol base in the heart of Helmand province, killing a British soldier and injuring six others in what appears to have been another "green on blue" attack.
The dead soldier, a member of 28 Engineer Regiment, attached to 21 Engineer Regiment, was shot on Monday at Hazrat patrol base, in the troubled Nahr-e Saraj district north of the provincial capital, Lashkar Gah.The dead soldier, a member of 28 Engineer Regiment, attached to 21 Engineer Regiment, was shot on Monday at Hazrat patrol base, in the troubled Nahr-e Saraj district north of the provincial capital, Lashkar Gah.
The killer was shot dead at the scene. The Taliban immediately claimed it was behind the attack — identifying the "infiltrator" as Mohammad Qasim Faroq.The killer was shot dead at the scene. The Taliban immediately claimed it was behind the attack — identifying the "infiltrator" as Mohammad Qasim Faroq.
But officials warned it was far too early to say what had provoked the shooting, and said the man had fired on local soldiers before turning his gun on British personnel.But officials warned it was far too early to say what had provoked the shooting, and said the man had fired on local soldiers before turning his gun on British personnel.
"The members of the Afghan army were on sentry duty and were able to take cover," said a source."The members of the Afghan army were on sentry duty and were able to take cover," said a source.
The MoD confirmed that six other British soldiers were wounded in the attack, although none of them are thought to have life-threatening injuries. The MoD confirmed that six other British soldiers were wounded in the attack, although none of them was thought to have life-threatening injuries.
They have been taken by helicopter to the hospital at Camp Bastion, Nato's main base in Helmand. Some of the wounded may return to the UK for further treatment.They have been taken by helicopter to the hospital at Camp Bastion, Nato's main base in Helmand. Some of the wounded may return to the UK for further treatment.
British forces are gradually withdrawing from the patrol bases in Nahr-e Saraj, one of the most violent areas of the country, as responsibility for security is handed over to the national army and police.British forces are gradually withdrawing from the patrol bases in Nahr-e Saraj, one of the most violent areas of the country, as responsibility for security is handed over to the national army and police.
The winter months are usually relatively quiet — the fighting season runs during the summer from May to October — and the death is the first involving British forces since November, when a captain in the Royal Scots Borderers was killed in another "insider attack" at the Shawqat forward operating base in the Nad Ali district. The winter months are usually relatively quiet – the fighting season runs during the summer from May to October – and the death is the first involving British forces since November, when a captain in the Royal Scots Borderers was killed in another "insider attack" at the Shawqat forward operating base in the Nad Ali district.
The number of "green on blue" attacks has soared in the last 12 months, and commanders will be concerned that the new year has begun with yet another incident of this kind, despite renewed efforts to root out suspected militants from the ranks of the 350,000-strong Afghan security forces.The number of "green on blue" attacks has soared in the last 12 months, and commanders will be concerned that the new year has begun with yet another incident of this kind, despite renewed efforts to root out suspected militants from the ranks of the 350,000-strong Afghan security forces.
Though senior officers insist the relationship between British personnel and their Afghan colleagues is healthy, they also privately concede the damage that can be done to morale at this delicate stage of the withdrawal process, with so much relying on the need for local and Nato forces to trust each other.Though senior officers insist the relationship between British personnel and their Afghan colleagues is healthy, they also privately concede the damage that can be done to morale at this delicate stage of the withdrawal process, with so much relying on the need for local and Nato forces to trust each other.
Three weeks ago, David Cameron announced that 4,000 British forces would leave Afghanistan this year as British involvement in combat operations comes to an end. Three weeks ago, David Cameron announced 4,000 British forces would leave Afghanistan this year as UK involvement in combat operations comes to an end.
Downing Street said on Tuesday that measures had been taken to step up protection of troops in Afghanistan, including stronger vetting and screening of recruits to the Afghan security forces, and the monitoring and surveillance of elements thought to pose a risk. Downing Street said on Tuesday measures had been taken to step up protection of troops in Afghanistan, including stronger vetting and screening of recruits to the Afghan security forces, and the monitoring and surveillance of elements thought to pose a risk.
"These are clearly very, very serious incidents," the prime minister's official spokesman said. "The military always keep force protection measures under review.""These are clearly very, very serious incidents," the prime minister's official spokesman said. "The military always keep force protection measures under review."
The Afghan president, Hamid Karzai, is due in the US this week to discuss the broader political and security outlook for the country as the White House considers its own withdrawal plans.The Afghan president, Hamid Karzai, is due in the US this week to discuss the broader political and security outlook for the country as the White House considers its own withdrawal plans.
Though the MoD did not disclose details of the latest death, a spokesman said the soldier's next of kin had been informed.Though the MoD did not disclose details of the latest death, a spokesman said the soldier's next of kin had been informed.
A statement said: "It is with great sadness that the Ministry of Defence must announce the death of a soldier from 28 Engineer Regiment, attached to 21 Engineer Regiment, on Monday 7 January 2013 as a result of small arms fire from a suspected member of the Afghan national army, who turned his weapon on ANA and Isaf soldiers in patrol base Hazrat in the Nahr-e Saraj district of Helmand province."A statement said: "It is with great sadness that the Ministry of Defence must announce the death of a soldier from 28 Engineer Regiment, attached to 21 Engineer Regiment, on Monday 7 January 2013 as a result of small arms fire from a suspected member of the Afghan national army, who turned his weapon on ANA and Isaf soldiers in patrol base Hazrat in the Nahr-e Saraj district of Helmand province."
A spokesman for Task Force Helmand, Major Laurence Roche, said: "This is an extremely sad day for the Corps of Royal Engineers and everyone serving with Task Force Helmand. Our thoughts are with the soldier's family and friends at this time."A spokesman for Task Force Helmand, Major Laurence Roche, said: "This is an extremely sad day for the Corps of Royal Engineers and everyone serving with Task Force Helmand. Our thoughts are with the soldier's family and friends at this time."
An Afghan military spokesman said a joint commission of Afghan and Nato officers was investigating the assault and attempting to determine whether the killer was a member of the ANA.An Afghan military spokesman said a joint commission of Afghan and Nato officers was investigating the assault and attempting to determine whether the killer was a member of the ANA.
The insider attack takes to 439 the number of UK service members to have lost their lives since operations in Afghanistan began in October 2001. "Green on blue" attacks have caused the deaths of all six British soldiers who have died on the current tour, Herrick 17.The insider attack takes to 439 the number of UK service members to have lost their lives since operations in Afghanistan began in October 2001. "Green on blue" attacks have caused the deaths of all six British soldiers who have died on the current tour, Herrick 17.
Such attacks killed 61 people in 45 incidents in 2012, compared with 35 killed in 21 attacks the previous year, according to Nato.Such attacks killed 61 people in 45 incidents in 2012, compared with 35 killed in 21 attacks the previous year, according to Nato.
In some cases militants have worn Afghan army or police uniforms to attack foreign troops. A number of attacks have also been carried out by members of Afghan security forces against their own comrades.In some cases militants have worn Afghan army or police uniforms to attack foreign troops. A number of attacks have also been carried out by members of Afghan security forces against their own comrades.