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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| SAS man 'shot by British bullet' | SAS man 'shot by British bullet' |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| An SAS soldier shot dead rescuing a group of hostages in Iraq was killed with a type of bullet used by British troops, an inquest has heard. | |
| Sgt Jonathan Hollingsworth was hit in the chest as his unit freed a group of Western security guards held hostage in a Basra apartment block. | |
| The 35-year-old died later in a military hospital. | The 35-year-old died later in a military hospital. |
| Sgt Hollingsworth's colleagues told the Hereford inquest they did not hear a gunshot and no weapons were found. | Sgt Hollingsworth's colleagues told the Hereford inquest they did not hear a gunshot and no weapons were found. |
| Hereford Coroner David Halpern was also told it was "well known" insurgents had access to British bullets. | Hereford Coroner David Halpern was also told it was "well known" insurgents had access to British bullets. |
| Sgt Hollingsworth had been leading three teams on the operation in which he was killed in November 2006. | |
| 'No-go area' | 'No-go area' |
| He and another soldier, known as Soldier B, had been the first to enter a flat in the apartment block, the Hereford Town Hall inquest heard. | He and another soldier, known as Soldier B, had been the first to enter a flat in the apartment block, the Hereford Town Hall inquest heard. |
| The environment was "dark and very dusty" and pretty much a "no-go area" for British troops. | The environment was "dark and very dusty" and pretty much a "no-go area" for British troops. |
| Soldier B said they had just entered the kitchen when Sgt Hollingsworth told him he needed a medic. | Soldier B said they had just entered the kitchen when Sgt Hollingsworth told him he needed a medic. |
| He died with friends holding his hand Colleague of Sgt Hollingsworth | He died with friends holding his hand Colleague of Sgt Hollingsworth |
| He said he did not fire his own gun and did not see anyone who appeared to be carrying a weapon other than British troops. | He said he did not fire his own gun and did not see anyone who appeared to be carrying a weapon other than British troops. |
| Soldiers entering the flat found men, women and children and detained all the men in the apartments, apart from two who escaped. | Soldiers entering the flat found men, women and children and detained all the men in the apartments, apart from two who escaped. |
| Mr Halpern said it was a "possibility" that one of these men had a weapon, discharged it, and jumped over the balcony. | Mr Halpern said it was a "possibility" that one of these men had a weapon, discharged it, and jumped over the balcony. |
| Another soldier, identified only as H, who was down a corridor in the flat and armed with a weapon which fired 5.56mm bullets said he did not use it at any time. | Another soldier, identified only as H, who was down a corridor in the flat and armed with a weapon which fired 5.56mm bullets said he did not use it at any time. |
| He added he did not see any Iraqis with weapons and also did not hear any gunshots. | He added he did not see any Iraqis with weapons and also did not hear any gunshots. |
| He said a "relatively quick" search after Sgt Hollingsworth was injured did not find any weapons or 5.56mm ammunition in the flat. | He said a "relatively quick" search after Sgt Hollingsworth was injured did not find any weapons or 5.56mm ammunition in the flat. |
| 'Mixed up' | 'Mixed up' |
| Soldier B, who was in charge of ammunition stores, said the bullet which killed Sgt Hollingsworth - an "RG" type manufactured before 2000 - would not have been used by troops on operations, but only in training. | Soldier B, who was in charge of ammunition stores, said the bullet which killed Sgt Hollingsworth - an "RG" type manufactured before 2000 - would not have been used by troops on operations, but only in training. |
| Andrew Davidson, representing Sgt Hollingsworth's family, asked Soldier B: "Ammunition is ammunition, it might get mixed up - is that fair?" | Andrew Davidson, representing Sgt Hollingsworth's family, asked Soldier B: "Ammunition is ammunition, it might get mixed up - is that fair?" |
| Soldier B replied: "Yes, possibly." | Soldier B replied: "Yes, possibly." |
| Sgt Hollingsworth was the 126th UK service personnel to die since the start of hostilities in Iraq. | Sgt Hollingsworth was the 126th UK service personnel to die since the start of hostilities in Iraq. |
| Another soldier, who treated Sgt Hollingsworth after he was injured, passed on a message to his colleague's family. | Another soldier, who treated Sgt Hollingsworth after he was injured, passed on a message to his colleague's family. |
| He said: "At the time that Jon died, I'd just like you to know that he died with friends. | He said: "At the time that Jon died, I'd just like you to know that he died with friends. |
| "He died with friends holding his hand." | "He died with friends holding his hand." |
| The inquest continues. | The inquest continues. |