13/11/2006

Four patrol boat crew killed on Iraq waterway

An investigation is underway to try to discover how an improvised bomb attack killed four British servicemen in southern Iraq.

The attack on a patrol boat on the Shatt Al-Arad waterway near Basra seriously injured three other soldiers.

The Ministry of Defence confirmed that four UK service personnel have been killed and three have sustained either very serious or serious injuries as a result of an attack on the boat patrol.

The attack took place on the Shatt Al-Arab waterway in Basra city at around 1pm local time (10am GMT) on Sunday 12 November 2006.

The MoD said that the four personnel killed were from the Royal Signals, the Intelligence Corps, 539 Assault Squadron Royal Marines and one from 45 Commando Royal Marines, who was attached to 539 Assault Squadron Royal Marines.

Speaking on Sunday, Secretary of State for Defence Des Browne said: "This terrible incident reinforces in our minds the sacrifice made by the brave men and women of our armed forces.

"My thoughts are with the families of the four service personnel so tragically killed today and of those who were wounded. This blow will be felt too by their friends and colleagues across the services, who continue to display the courage and professionalism of which we are rightly proud.

"Today at the Cenotaph and across the country, we remembered those brave souls that have served this nation across the years. That dedication is still evident and the events today in Iraq are a stark reminder of the perils they face."

(SP/KMcA)


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