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Servicemen shot by Afghan soldier 'with a personal grievance' | Servicemen shot by Afghan soldier 'with a personal grievance' |
(35 minutes later) | |
Two soldiers were gunned down by a rogue Afghan soldier with a "personal grievance" after a row at the gates of their base, an inquest has heard. | Two soldiers were gunned down by a rogue Afghan soldier with a "personal grievance" after a row at the gates of their base, an inquest has heard. |
Sgt Luke Taylor, 33, from Bournemouth, and Burnley-born L/Cpl Michael Foley, 25, were shot dead at British forces' HQ in Helmand last March. | Sgt Luke Taylor, 33, from Bournemouth, and Burnley-born L/Cpl Michael Foley, 25, were shot dead at British forces' HQ in Helmand last March. |
Afghan troops had been turned away prompting an angry reaction. | Afghan troops had been turned away prompting an angry reaction. |
L/Cpl Foley was shot in the head and neck as he opened the gate and Sgt Taylor died in the ensuing fire fight. | |
He was hit in the left side of his chest with the bullet damaging his lung and aorta. | He was hit in the left side of his chest with the bullet damaging his lung and aorta. |
The inquest in Oxford heard the Afghan was waiting outside the base with other men to collect a VIP on 26 March 2012. | The inquest in Oxford heard the Afghan was waiting outside the base with other men to collect a VIP on 26 March 2012. |
They were not allowed to enter the base due to security arrangements and became increasingly agitated. | They were not allowed to enter the base due to security arrangements and became increasingly agitated. |
Shortly after 10:00 a nearby gate was opened as a local interpreter was escorting a civilian from the base. | Shortly after 10:00 a nearby gate was opened as a local interpreter was escorting a civilian from the base. |
No insurgency link | No insurgency link |
Deputy coroner Alison Thompson said: "That opening of the gate provided an opportunity for a man with an intent..." | Deputy coroner Alison Thompson said: "That opening of the gate provided an opportunity for a man with an intent..." |
After bursting through the gate the Afghan National Army (ANA) sergeant unloaded rounds from a machine gun before being shot dead, the hearing heard. | After bursting through the gate the Afghan National Army (ANA) sergeant unloaded rounds from a machine gun before being shot dead, the hearing heard. |
Ms Thompson added: "The ANA soldier was believed to be acting on his own with a personal grievance rather than with insurgents... this was a shocking, appalling, unexpected thing to happen." | Ms Thompson added: "The ANA soldier was believed to be acting on his own with a personal grievance rather than with insurgents... this was a shocking, appalling, unexpected thing to happen." |
Major Anthony Fyson told the inquest that the ANA sergeant had been deployed in Helmand for four years and there was "no evidence linking him to the insurgency". | Major Anthony Fyson told the inquest that the ANA sergeant had been deployed in Helmand for four years and there was "no evidence linking him to the insurgency". |
Speaking about the threat levels at Lashkar Gar HQ on the day of the shooting, he said all UK soldiers were "aware of the threat" from ANA soldiers. | Speaking about the threat levels at Lashkar Gar HQ on the day of the shooting, he said all UK soldiers were "aware of the threat" from ANA soldiers. |
Security at the base has been increased following the attack. | Security at the base has been increased following the attack. |
'No witch hunt' | 'No witch hunt' |
The men's widows tried to get the inquest adjourned to enable another British soldier to be called as a witness. | The men's widows tried to get the inquest adjourned to enable another British soldier to be called as a witness. |
They wanted Cpl David Rose, who was on cover position at the gate, to answer questions about why he was seated at the time of the attack. | They wanted Cpl David Rose, who was on cover position at the gate, to answer questions about why he was seated at the time of the attack. |
In a written statement he said he was near the gate with a full view of it. | In a written statement he said he was near the gate with a full view of it. |
But Ms Thompson ruled against the application saying her "legal roll is to ascertain how the men died" not if the deaths could have been prevented. | But Ms Thompson ruled against the application saying her "legal roll is to ascertain how the men died" not if the deaths could have been prevented. |
She said, although sympathetic to the families' position, she did not want the inquest to become "a witch hunt" where blame was cast. | She said, although sympathetic to the families' position, she did not want the inquest to become "a witch hunt" where blame was cast. |
"It is not for me to make criticism of the soldiers and the way they operated, or attack individuals in relation to their responsibility for this tragic event." | "It is not for me to make criticism of the soldiers and the way they operated, or attack individuals in relation to their responsibility for this tragic event." |
The coroner recorded verdicts of unlawful killing while on active service overseas. | The coroner recorded verdicts of unlawful killing while on active service overseas. |
Royal Marine Sgt Luke Taylor and L/Cpl Foley, of the Adjutant General's Corps, were praised by their commanding officers. | Royal Marine Sgt Luke Taylor and L/Cpl Foley, of the Adjutant General's Corps, were praised by their commanding officers. |
Speaking outside the court, L/Cpl Foley's widow, Sophie Foley, said: "I finally want to pay tribute to my beloved husband Michael. | |
"I love him and I miss him so much. | |
"I take comfort in that he lives on in our beautiful children, shining up as a star." |