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Rogue Afghan policeman 'real champion' of coalition forces Gareth Thursby and Thomas Wroe unlawfully killed in Helmand
(about 2 hours later)
A rogue Afghan policeman who gunned down two British soldiers was a "real champion" of the partnership with coalition forces, an inquest has heard. Two British soldiers gunned down by a rogue Afghan policeman inside their checkpoint were unlawfully killed, a coroner has ruled.
The man shot Sgt Gareth Thursby, 29, and Pte Thomas Wroe, 18, from 3rd Battalion, The Yorkshire Regiment, in Helmand Province on 15 September 2012. The policeman shot Sgt Gareth Thursby, 29, and Pte Thomas Wroe, 18, from 3rd Battalion, The Yorkshire Regiment, in Helmand Province on 15 September 2012.
An inquest into their deaths, in Oxford, heard the officer opened fire on the soldiers at an army checkpoint.An inquest into their deaths, in Oxford, heard the officer opened fire on the soldiers at an army checkpoint.
The Afghan officer, known as Gul Agha, was himself killed in return fire.
Both Sgt Thursby and Pte Wroe were left seriously injured and later died.Both Sgt Thursby and Pte Wroe were left seriously injured and later died.
Another soldier, Pte Augustine Forkyo, was also injured, and is still recovering, the inquest heard. Another soldier, Pte Augustine Forkyo, was also injured and is still recovering, the inquest heard.
Accidentally fired Recording a verdict of unlawful killing for both men, Oxfordshire Assistant Coroner Alison Thompson said although there was no apparent motive for the "appalling attack", there was no established link between the gunman and the insurgency in Afghanistan.
Sgt Thursby, who was a father-of-two from Skipton, North Yorkshire, was promoted to sergeant in 2010, and had previously served in Kosovo and Iraq. Sgt Thursby, a father of two from Skipton, North Yorkshire, was promoted to sergeant in 2010, and had previously served in Kosovo and Iraq.
Pte Wroe who was from Holmfirth, West Yorkshire, joined the Army in 2010, and was deployed to Afghanistan in July 2012. Pte Wroe, who was from Holmfirth, West Yorkshire, joined the Army in 2010, and was deployed to Afghanistan in July 2012.
Lt Callum Cameron, platoon commander of 3 Platoon, Alma Company, told the inquest the Afghan policeman who opened fire that day was based at a nearby checkpoint but was well known in the area. Bullets hit wall
Lt Callum Cameron, platoon commander of 3 Platoon, Alma Company, had earlier told the inquest the Afghan policeman who opened fire that day was based at a nearby checkpoint but was well known in the area.
It was originally thought an Afghan policeman might have accidentally fired his weapon, said Lt Cameron.It was originally thought an Afghan policeman might have accidentally fired his weapon, said Lt Cameron.
However, when bullets started hitting the checkpoint's wall, it became clear it was an "attack", he said.However, when bullets started hitting the checkpoint's wall, it became clear it was an "attack", he said.
Walking out of the checkpoint, he saw Pte Wroe and Sgt Thursby had been injured, along with a third soldier, while the Afghan policeman lay on the ground still moving and with a weapon next to him. Walking out of the checkpoint, he saw Pte Wroe and Sgt Thursby had been injured, along with a third soldier, while Gul Agha lay on the ground still moving and with a weapon next to him.
'Highly experienced'
Lt Cameron told the inquest he ordered soldiers who were covering the man to move away, then told one to "re-engage".Lt Cameron told the inquest he ordered soldiers who were covering the man to move away, then told one to "re-engage".
The soldier fired four shots at the man before his gun jammed, then another took over, firing two more shots, leaving him lying motionless on the ground.The soldier fired four shots at the man before his gun jammed, then another took over, firing two more shots, leaving him lying motionless on the ground.
Lt Cameron admitted it would have been unusual for the Afghan policeman to be allowed to carry his weapon in that area of the checkpoint.Lt Cameron admitted it would have been unusual for the Afghan policeman to be allowed to carry his weapon in that area of the checkpoint.
He said he could only theorise that "highly experienced" Sgt Thursby had made a judgement to allow the man to do so. He said he could only theorise that "highly-experienced" Sgt Thursby had made a judgement to allow Gul Agha to do so.
"He was very well known, very identifiable. He was a real champion of the partnership," said Lt Cameron."He was very well known, very identifiable. He was a real champion of the partnership," said Lt Cameron.
It was a shock that the man had turned on his coalition partners, said Lt Cameron, and he could not explain what might have caused it.
L/Cpl Ian Young told the hearing he had trained Gul Agha earlier in the tour.
He said the man used to bring his children to Checkpoint Shakar, where he was based, adding: "He just seemed like an average family man really, happy all the time."
He had shown no signs of disillusionment or anything against coalition personnel, said L/Cpl Young.
Recording her verdict of unlawful killing, Ms Thompson said: "It is often difficult if not impossible to establish motivation in this sort of case, making it especially hard for families to come to terms with the death."