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| MoD investigates 'friendly fire' | MoD investigates 'friendly fire' |
| (20 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. |
| The Apache attack helicopter was called in by ground troops battling with Taleban fighters, and it successfully engaged the insurgents a first time. | The Apache attack helicopter was called in by ground troops battling with Taleban fighters, and it successfully engaged the insurgents a first time. |
| But in a second attack, a British position was mistaken for the enemy, and three soldiers were seriously hurt. It is the first "friendly fire" by UKair support on its own in Afghanistan. | |
| 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. | 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. |
| FROM THE TODAY PROGRAMME More from Today programme | FROM THE TODAY PROGRAMME More from Today programme |
| 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 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. |
| They called in air 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 into the incident. | 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. | 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. | 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". | 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". |