Five British soldiers die in Afghan attack (From This is Hampshire)

Five British soldiers die in Afghan attack

8:33am Wednesday 4th November 2009 in

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Five British soldiers have been killed by a rogue Afghan policeman, British and Afghan officials have said.

The policeman turned on them and started firing inside a military compound.

The soldiers, three from the Grenadier Guards and two from the Royal Military Police, died in the Nad-e'Ali district of Helmand Province on Tuesday afternoon.

Their families have been informed.

Army spokesman Lieutenant Colonel David Wakefield said: "The soldiers concerned were mentoring Afghan police. They were working inside and living inside an Afghan national police checkpoint."

He told Sky News: "It would appear, and it is our initial understanding, that an individual Afghan policeman possibly acting with another started firing within the checkpoint before fleeing the scene."

He stressed that the attack did not come as a result of any breakdown or fight between British and Afghan forces.

The gunman's whereabouts are unknown but British forces are making every effort to find him, military officials said.

Prime Minister Gordon Brown paid tribute to the soldiers describing their deaths as a "terrible loss".

"My thoughts, condolences and sympathies go to their families, loved ones and colleagues. I know that the whole country too will mourn their loss," he said.