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U.S. and other foreign troops in Afghanistan occasionally come under fire. |
KABUL,
Aug 17 (IslamOnline & News Agencies) - Two British soldiers serving
with the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan
were killed, an ISAF spokesman said Saturday, August 17, 2002. The
victims' families have not yet been notified of their death.
"I
can confirm there have been two British fatalities," Major Steve
Odell told reporters, reported Agence France-Presse (AFP).
The
spokesman refused to disclose further details about the deaths. However,
some news agencies reported that the killing was due to gunfire in Kabul
airport.
For
his part, Odell said the deaths were "not the result of hostile
action," and that an investigation was now underway.
A
spokeswoman for the British Embassy in Kabul said that further details
about the incident were expected to be released later in the day.
The
British Union Jack flew at half-mast at the British military
headquarters in Kabul as Colonel Simon Levey read a short statement to
reporters which gave few clues about exactly how the soldiers died.
"It
is with deepest regret that I have to inform you of a tragic event which
occurred shortly before 1:00 am (2030 GMT Friday) this morning at Kabul
airport," he said, AFP reported.
"As
a result of this incident two British service personnel have been
confirmed dead. A full investigation is now under way by the military
police and therefore I'm sure you will understand that there is a
limited amount of information that I can provide you at this time.
"What
I can tell you, however, is that no other person or party is thought to
have been involved in this incident and I can also confirm that both
personnel suffered fatal gunshot wounds."
Levey
also expressed his condolences for the victims and said their next of
kin were being notified.
Another
British soldier serving with ISAF was killed earlier this year in a
shooting accident.
Approximately
350 British troops are based in Kabul as part of the 20-nation ISAF
contingent.
British
paratroopers came under fire in Kabul twice in one week in
February.
Though
there were no injuries, and it was thought to have been armed thieves
who were disturbed by the troops, defense experts warned the situation
could spiral out of control, according to BBC’s online news service.
Britain
handed over command of ISAF to Turkey at the end of Afghanistan's Loya
Jirga (Grand Assembly) in June and the vast majority of its troops, who
had been patrolling the streets of the Afghan capital headed home.
Some
5,000 ISAF troops have been deployed in the Afghan capital since last
December after the downfall of the former Taliban regime. Their mission
is limited to the capital.
