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MoD investigates 'friendly fire' MoD investigates 'friendly fire'
(30 minutes later)
The Ministry of Defence is trying to find out why an Army helicopter accidentally fired on UK paratroops in Afghanistan, wounding nine.The Ministry of Defence is trying to find out why an Army helicopter accidentally fired on UK paratroops in Afghanistan, wounding nine.
Three of the soldiers were seriously hurt in the incident on Wednesday. All of their families have been informed. The Apache attack helicopter was called in by ground troops battling with Taleban fighters, and it successfully engaged the insurgents a first time.
It was the first known occurrence of so-called friendly fire by UK air support on UK forces in Afghanistan. But in a second attack, a British position was mistaken for the enemy, and three soldiers were seriously hurt.
Six of the wounded have returned to duty. Two are stable in a field hospital. One is returning to the UK. It is the first "friendly fire" by UK air support on its own in Afghanistan.
That person is also described as stable. Six of the wounded have returned to duty. Two are stable in a field hospital. One is being flown back to the UK for treatment.
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The MoD said soldiers from 2 Para were on a routine patrol near the British forward operating base, Gibraltar, when they encountered Taleban fighters at 1227 local time. The soldiers from the 2nd Battalion of the Parachute Regiment - 2 Para - were on a routine foot patrol near the British forward operating base Gibraltar in the Helmand River Valley when they encountered Taleban fighters.
The paratroops called in support from the Army's Apache helicopter, which successfully fired on a Taleban position. They called in air support from the Army's Apache helicopter, which successfully fired on a Taleban position.
But then in the confusion of what the MoD termed a "rapidly-changing situation", it fired again on another position which the crew believed was held by the enemy. But then in the confusion of what the MoD termed a "rapidly-changing situation", it fired again on another position, which the crew believed was held by the enemy.
An investigation is now under way as to how the incident occurred. An investigation is now under way into the incident.
The BBC's Alistair Leithead in Kabul said the Apache was routinely relied on by ground troops to get them out of danger or finish off an engagement with insurgents.
Fast jets like Harriers or American aircraft are also used, but the Apache is heavily armed and favoured for its excellent optics.
Considering the reliance ground troops have on them, Alistair Leithead said, it was "almost surprising this doesn't happen more often in the confusion of battle".