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'Friendly fire' video unearthed 'Friendly fire' video unearthed
(20 minutes later)
The Sun newspaper says it has obtained the cockpit video at the centre of a row over the "friendly-fire" death of a British soldier in Iraq.The Sun newspaper says it has obtained the cockpit video at the centre of a row over the "friendly-fire" death of a British soldier in Iraq.
An inquest into the death of Lance Corporal of Horse Matty Hull, 25, from Berks, was adjourned after the coroner said the tape was central to the case.An inquest into the death of Lance Corporal of Horse Matty Hull, 25, from Berks, was adjourned after the coroner said the tape was central to the case.
The MoD said it was classified "secret" by the US, so could not be released.The MoD said it was classified "secret" by the US, so could not be released.
The Sun says the video shows US aircraft attacking a British convoy in Basra, southern Iraq, in March 2003.The Sun says the video shows US aircraft attacking a British convoy in Basra, southern Iraq, in March 2003.
The paper has published a transcript of what it says was said by US military personnel on the video.The paper has published a transcript of what it says was said by US military personnel on the video.
An air controller on the ground can be heard giving assurances there are no coalition forces in the area. At the start of the attack, one pilot notices orange panels on the vehicles and asks whether there could be any friendly units in the area.
However after the pilots realise their error one of them talks about the possibility of being jailed for carrying out the attack. His command gives assurances there are no coalition forces in the area.
Pilots open fire but soon the error is realised and they are informed that friendly units were in the area.
They are told: "Abort your mission. You got a, looks we might have a blue on blue situation [a friendly fire incident]."
One of the pilots talks about the possibility of being jailed for carrying out the attack.
One pilot says: "Did you hear?" A colleague replies: "Yeah, this sucks." The first pilot says: "We're in jail, dude."One pilot says: "Did you hear?" A colleague replies: "Yeah, this sucks." The first pilot says: "We're in jail, dude."
The Sun has released footage to television and radio stations, but the newspaper is not giving other websites permission to use clips.The Sun has released footage to television and radio stations, but the newspaper is not giving other websites permission to use clips.
Last week, when the existence of the tape came to light, L/CoH Hull's widow, Susan, described it as an "absolute disgrace" that she had been assured by the military no such tape existed.Last week, when the existence of the tape came to light, L/CoH Hull's widow, Susan, described it as an "absolute disgrace" that she had been assured by the military no such tape existed.
L/CoH Hull, from the Household Cavalry Regiment, died from multiple injuries inside his blazing Scimitar tank, despite efforts by colleagues to save him.L/CoH Hull, from the Household Cavalry Regiment, died from multiple injuries inside his blazing Scimitar tank, despite efforts by colleagues to save him.
He was travelling in a column of light armoured vehicles near the southern Iraqi city of Basra when it was reportedly attacked by a US A-10 "tankbuster" aircraft.He was travelling in a column of light armoured vehicles near the southern Iraqi city of Basra when it was reportedly attacked by a US A-10 "tankbuster" aircraft.
Furious attackFurious attack
On Friday, Oxfordshire Assistant Deputy Coroner Andrew Walker was forced to adjourn L/CoH Hull's hearing because the MoD had failed to provide the inquest with a recording.On Friday, Oxfordshire Assistant Deputy Coroner Andrew Walker was forced to adjourn L/CoH Hull's hearing because the MoD had failed to provide the inquest with a recording.
He had earlier launched a furious attack on the MoD for refusing to release the tape.He had earlier launched a furious attack on the MoD for refusing to release the tape.
There has never been any intention to deliberately deceive or mislead L/CoH Hull's family MoDThere has never been any intention to deliberately deceive or mislead L/CoH Hull's family MoD
The MoD said it was given a copy of the video by the US government for its own investigation into the incident.The MoD said it was given a copy of the video by the US government for its own investigation into the incident.
"This recording is the property of the United States government and the MoD does not have the right to release it without their permission," it said in a statement."This recording is the property of the United States government and the MoD does not have the right to release it without their permission," it said in a statement.
L/CoH Hull's family had been told that some classified material has been withheld, "but we did not specify its exact nature", the statement added.L/CoH Hull's family had been told that some classified material has been withheld, "but we did not specify its exact nature", the statement added.
"There has never been any intention to deliberately deceive or mislead L/CoH Hull's family.""There has never been any intention to deliberately deceive or mislead L/CoH Hull's family."
A Pentagon spokeswoman said the US government never released documents that were part of an investigation.A Pentagon spokeswoman said the US government never released documents that were part of an investigation.
The US government would view whoever leaked the video as "criminally responsible", the spokeswoman added.The US government would view whoever leaked the video as "criminally responsible", the spokeswoman added.