British fire killed
Danes in Afghanistan
COPENHAGEN, 20 Dec—Two Danish soldiers killed in Afghanistan while fighting Taleban insurgents were
victims of friendly fire from a British unit, the Danish Army Central Command said on Tuesday.
The Army said its investigation showed that the two soldiers were killed on 26 September by a Javelin antitank
missile fired by British soldiers in Helmand province, southern Afghanistan.
“My thoughts go first and foremost to their relatives, who so tragically lost their loved ones,” said Major
General Poul Kiaerskou, head of the Army Central Command, in a statement.
“My thoughts go also to our British allies, who now have to live with the knowledge that two Danish
colleagues were accidentally killed by British fire. That's a situation no soldier wants to find himself in.”
British Brigadier Andrew Mackay, who commands a task force of British, Danish and Estonian troops in
Helmand, issued a statement expressing deep sympathy to the families and friends of the two Danes.
He said the British Army would conduct its own thorough investigation into the incident and would
make no further comment until that was completed. Denmark has about 550 soldiers in Afghanistan. So far
six have died in combat, while three others were killed while trying to dismantle a mine.—MNA/Reuters
Danes in Afghanistan
COPENHAGEN, 20 Dec—Two Danish soldiers killed in Afghanistan while fighting Taleban insurgents were
victims of friendly fire from a British unit, the Danish Army Central Command said on Tuesday.
The Army said its investigation showed that the two soldiers were killed on 26 September by a Javelin antitank
missile fired by British soldiers in Helmand province, southern Afghanistan.
“My thoughts go first and foremost to their relatives, who so tragically lost their loved ones,” said Major
General Poul Kiaerskou, head of the Army Central Command, in a statement.
“My thoughts go also to our British allies, who now have to live with the knowledge that two Danish
colleagues were accidentally killed by British fire. That's a situation no soldier wants to find himself in.”
British Brigadier Andrew Mackay, who commands a task force of British, Danish and Estonian troops in
Helmand, issued a statement expressing deep sympathy to the families and friends of the two Danes.
He said the British Army would conduct its own thorough investigation into the incident and would
make no further comment until that was completed. Denmark has about 550 soldiers in Afghanistan. So far
six have died in combat, while three others were killed while trying to dismantle a mine.—MNA/Reuters
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