Afghan Soldier Shoots Dead Two British Troops at Gates of UK Base in Helmand
Gunman killed by return fire during attack in provincial capital Lashkar Gah, in latest sign of growing tensions in Afghanistan
Two British soldiers were killed on Monday when an Afghan soldier turned his gun on them at the gates of a UK military base.
The attacker was also killed during an exchange of fire which may have started after security guards stopped a truck as it tried to enter the heavily fortified compound in Helmand’s capital Lashkar Gah.
The incident comes amid heightened tension in Afghanistan following incidents involving US troops such as the killing of 17 Afghan civilians by an American soldier.
In the past seven weeks 10 British soldiers have died on duty in Helmand, though David Cameron and the defence secretary, Philip Hammond, have made clear they intend to resist mounting calls for western forces to come home early.
The latest incident is a “green on blue” attack - when a member of the Afghan security forces has killed an ally from Nato’s International Security and Assistance Force (Isaf).