The Times February 08, 2006
Britons to rescue of besieged soldiers
By Michael Evans, Defence Editor
The Royal Gloucestershire, Berkshire and Wiltshire Regiment
A QUICK-REACTION force of more than 100 British troops was dropped by helicopter into a remote city in northern Afghanistan yesterday to rescue Norwegian soldiers. The Norwegians had been attacked by about 700 Muslim demonstrators protesting at the newspaper cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad.
The British troops from the 1st Battalion The Royal
Gloucestershire, Berkshire and Wiltshire Regiment were ordered in after the city of Maymana and many other areas endured violent clashes.
About 200 Norwegians were trapped inside their compound on the outskirts of Maymana as the demonstrators, some armed with assault rifles, burst through the gates and began throwing fragmentation grenades and petrol bombs. The Norwegian soldiers were there to provide protection for a Nato reconstruction team.
Nato commanders in Kabul ordered in the British force based at Mazar-i-Sharif, about 150 miles east of Maymana. Some non-essential UN staff in Maymana had been evacuated after its provincial office in the city was attacked with stones, in the protest.
American F16s had flown low over the city to try to deter demonstrators but to no avail.
The first British troops on the scene were about 16 soldiers from The Royal Gloucestershire, Berkshire and Wiltshire Regiment. They were led by a major who made a quick assessment of the threat and called up the rest of his company, another 100 soldiers, who were flown by German helicopters to the compound.
Last night British defence sources said that the situation in the city had calmed down, but that the troops were expected to stay overnight.
Four demonstrators were reported to have been shot dead by Afghan police.
thetimesonline.co.uk
Britons to rescue of besieged soldiers
By Michael Evans, Defence Editor
The Royal Gloucestershire, Berkshire and Wiltshire Regiment
A QUICK-REACTION force of more than 100 British troops was dropped by helicopter into a remote city in northern Afghanistan yesterday to rescue Norwegian soldiers. The Norwegians had been attacked by about 700 Muslim demonstrators protesting at the newspaper cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad.
The British troops from the 1st Battalion The Royal
Gloucestershire, Berkshire and Wiltshire Regiment were ordered in after the city of Maymana and many other areas endured violent clashes.
About 200 Norwegians were trapped inside their compound on the outskirts of Maymana as the demonstrators, some armed with assault rifles, burst through the gates and began throwing fragmentation grenades and petrol bombs. The Norwegian soldiers were there to provide protection for a Nato reconstruction team.
Nato commanders in Kabul ordered in the British force based at Mazar-i-Sharif, about 150 miles east of Maymana. Some non-essential UN staff in Maymana had been evacuated after its provincial office in the city was attacked with stones, in the protest.
American F16s had flown low over the city to try to deter demonstrators but to no avail.
The first British troops on the scene were about 16 soldiers from The Royal Gloucestershire, Berkshire and Wiltshire Regiment. They were led by a major who made a quick assessment of the threat and called up the rest of his company, another 100 soldiers, who were flown by German helicopters to the compound.
Last night British defence sources said that the situation in the city had calmed down, but that the troops were expected to stay overnight.
Four demonstrators were reported to have been shot dead by Afghan police.
thetimesonline.co.uk
