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| MoD report says Afghanistan troop deaths not 'friendly fire' incident | MoD report says Afghanistan troop deaths not 'friendly fire' incident |
| (4 months later) | |
| Two British troops killed this week in Afghanistan were not killed by "friendly fire", the Ministry of Defence (MoD) has said following an initial investigation. | Two British troops killed this week in Afghanistan were not killed by "friendly fire", the Ministry of Defence (MoD) has said following an initial investigation. |
| Corporal Channing Day, 25, who served with the 3 Medical Regiment, and Corporal David O'Connor, 27, of 40 Commando, were fatally injured while on patrol in the Nahr-e Saraj district of Helmand province on Wednesday. | Corporal Channing Day, 25, who served with the 3 Medical Regiment, and Corporal David O'Connor, 27, of 40 Commando, were fatally injured while on patrol in the Nahr-e Saraj district of Helmand province on Wednesday. |
| An Afghan man, who is believed to have been a member of the Afghan uniformed police but who was not wearing uniform at the time, also died during the incident, an MoD spokesman confirmed. He said the UK patrol was not working with any Afghan partners at the time. | An Afghan man, who is believed to have been a member of the Afghan uniformed police but who was not wearing uniform at the time, also died during the incident, an MoD spokesman confirmed. He said the UK patrol was not working with any Afghan partners at the time. |
| He said: "A joint incident assessment team, comprising specialists from International Security Assistance Force (Isaf), along with representatives from the government of Afghanistan, have conducted an initial review at the scene and have concluded that this was not a blue-on-blue ["friendly fire"] incident, and that the deaths of Corporal O'Connor and Corporal Day were caused by a third party or parties whose identities have yet to be established but who are not UK personnel. | He said: "A joint incident assessment team, comprising specialists from International Security Assistance Force (Isaf), along with representatives from the government of Afghanistan, have conducted an initial review at the scene and have concluded that this was not a blue-on-blue ["friendly fire"] incident, and that the deaths of Corporal O'Connor and Corporal Day were caused by a third party or parties whose identities have yet to be established but who are not UK personnel. |
| "Further investigation into the involvement or otherwise of the dead Afghan male is ongoing." | "Further investigation into the involvement or otherwise of the dead Afghan male is ongoing." |
| He said analysis of the event was "likely to take some time" while forensic examinations were carried out. A parallel Royal Military Police investigation was also being undertaken. | He said analysis of the event was "likely to take some time" while forensic examinations were carried out. A parallel Royal Military Police investigation was also being undertaken. |
| On Friday the defence secretary, Philip Hammond, paid tribute to O'Connor and Day and said what happened remained unclear. | On Friday the defence secretary, Philip Hammond, paid tribute to O'Connor and Day and said what happened remained unclear. |
| He said: "It is a terrible tragedy in Afghanistan and I would like to send my heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of the soldier and marine who were killed. | He said: "It is a terrible tragedy in Afghanistan and I would like to send my heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of the soldier and marine who were killed. |
| "The circumstances are not entirely clear. There is an investigation ongoing. We know there were three people dead, one of them wearing civilian clothes. | "The circumstances are not entirely clear. There is an investigation ongoing. We know there were three people dead, one of them wearing civilian clothes. |
| "It is not absolutely clear as yet exactly what did happen and that investigation will continue until we find out exactly what happened." | "It is not absolutely clear as yet exactly what did happen and that investigation will continue until we find out exactly what happened." |
| Asked if it was another "green-on-blue attack", code for incidents where Afghans turn on their Isaf partners, Hammond said: "There is a possibility that is what has happened but it is not clear at this stage who the shooter actually was." | Asked if it was another "green-on-blue attack", code for incidents where Afghans turn on their Isaf partners, Hammond said: "There is a possibility that is what has happened but it is not clear at this stage who the shooter actually was." |
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