Dead 'friendly fire' victims named

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Privates Aaron James McClure, Robert Graham Foster and John Thrumble, from 1st Battalion The Royal Anglian Regiment, died in an apparent "friendly fire" incident as they patrolled an area north-west of Kajaki, Helmand Province.

Two US F15s were called in to help when their unit came under attack from Taliban fighters on Thursday evening.

One of the aircraft launched a bomb at about 6.30pm local time, which apparently exploded, killing the three soldiers and wounding two others.

The three soldiers were declared dead at the scene and the two others were evacuated to Camp Bastion with serious injuries.

The commander of the Helmand task force, Brigadier John Lorimer, said the deaths were a "terrible tragedy".

"It is all the more devastating for everyone because we have been working with the US Air Force a great many times during the time that we have been out here," he told the BBC.

"The bombs dropped by American aircraft have saved the lives of hundreds of British troops."

Lieutenant Colonel Charlie Mayo, spokesman for British troops in Helmand Province, said an investigation into the deaths had been launched.

It is believed to be the second friendly fire incident involving British troops in Afghanistan. The MoD is still investigating reports that 21-year-old Royal Marine Jonathan Wigley was the victim of allied fire when he was killed in Helmand in December.