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| Afghanistan | |
| Missing UK Soldier Found Dead In Afghanistan | |
| 2011-07-05 | |
| A British soldier who went missing from his base in southern Afghanistan has been found dead with gunshot wounds. The serviceman's body was discovered by an Isaf patrol after a massive manhunt was launched. He was reportedly last seen at a military checkpoint in the early hours of the morning, and the Taliban had claimed responsibility for killing him. Nato spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Tim Purbrick said: "He had suffered gunshot wounds. "His exact cause of death is still to be established and the circumstances surrounding his disappearance and death are currently under investigation. "It would not be appropriate to comment further at this time. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends." It has been confirmed that the soldier was based in Nahr-e Saraj district and serving with The Highlanders, 4th Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland. Sky News defence correspondent Niall Paterson said the area had been the scene of struggles between Isaf and the Taliban for control. "The Taliban had only recently been pushed back from near the checkpoint he was stationed at. "Information coming from Afghanistan indicated he left the base to go for a swim, in a village where Isaf forces have been heavily engaged in counter-insurgency operations," Paterson said.
British forces' emergency actions also affected Prime Minister David Cameron, who was on a secret trip to visit troops in Helmand province. Mr Cameron had been scheduled to travel to nearby Lashkar Gah but the search for the missing soldier meant plans had to be changed. The PM said: "The reason for me not going to Lashkar Gah was not about my security. It was literally, use everything you have got to try and deal with this. "That was the right thing to do." Mr Cameron said he was "deeply saddened" by the death of the soldier - the British armed forces' 375th fatality during the decade-long campaign in Afghanistan. Defence Secretary Liam Fox told the House of Commons the unnamed soldier went missing "in the early hours of this morning" and that his next-of-kin had been informed. Jerome Starkey, a journalist in Kabul with The Times, told Sky News: "An eyewitness said he was last seen walking past an Afghan checkpoint. "And it was understood the British soldier, along with two colleagues, had gone swimming in a nearby canal." Mr Starkey also told Sky: "We understand the soldier was found around 7pm local time after being missing for about 17 hours." The journalist added: "The suggestion that I've had... is that the soldier was last seen walking south from a checkpoint where he was based. "He did not appear, or at least there are no reports, that he was under any duress." Paterson said extensive MoD inquiries are now under way. "The investigation will continue for a significant amount of time and there are many questions that need to be answered." The serviceman's disappearance came shortly after the Taliban sent a statement by text message claiming they had captured a soldier. | |
| Posted by:trailing wife |