A British soldier died in an 'operational accident' in Nad-e Ali district of Helmand yesterday.
The MoD said the accident was being investigated, but it is understood the soldier died in hospital after he was shot by mistake when he and his comrades were cleaning their rifles after a routine patrol. One of the weapons fired live ammunition which struck the soldier.
No other information is yet available, but if this soldier was shot by a colleague who was negligent in following the strict military procedures for weapon cleaning, the tragedy is two-fold. One soldier has lost his life and his family will suffer endlessly from that loss. Another soldier will carry the burden of his death because he didn't adhere to well practiced methods and knew his action was preventable. The truth of the accident will become known in time no doubt.
A total of 351 British military personnel have now died in Afghanistan since operations began in 2001. The latest death brings the number of troops who have died as a result of accidents, illness, non-combat injuries or who have not yet officially been assigned a cause of death to 42.
Posts
12 comments:
I wondered what an “operational accident” was.
It is tragic. Heartbreaking when you consider what it was all about.
The folly of attacking Afghanistan was criminal, and although this was a legally constituted war, it was ill-thought-out. And the outcome is as inevitable as it is awful.
The idiocy of stupid white men who think that they know it all.
Sad story.
Hopefully our poverty will force us to give up the Afghanistan nonsense.
Note how this is not headline news for the MSM.
Terribly sad Tris.
It is Julia.
Oh I don't think so Strathturret, but of course we have to wait and see if the US does.
Aye, noted OR.
RM, I'm not blaming his comrade, I'm sympathising with him.
There's no mention of what weapon was involved as yet but I'm sure the matter will be thoroughly investigated.
SR. Yes I deleted the post after re reading your article.
I thought I had escaped your beady eye but will have to move faster in future ;)
Ah ha RM, aye, you'll have to try harder. ;)
Post a Comment