A British hostage who died in Afghanistan last Friday during a rescue mission may have been accidentally killed by coalition forces trying to save her, British prime minister David Cameron said today.
"That evidence, and subsequent interviews with the personnel involved suggests that Linda could have died as a result of a grenade detonated by the task force during the assault," Mr Cameron said in a news conference.
He said he took full responsibility for authorising the operation to rescue Linda Norgrove, who worked for a US aid group. She had been kidnapped on September 26th.
Last week, British foreign secretary William Hague said she had been killed by her captors during the rescue attempt. Mr Hague had said Britain had worked with allies to act on information that Ms Norgrove's life was in danger.
Several insurgents were killed in the attempt to free her.
She and three Afghan colleagues were abducted last month in rugged eastern Kunar province, a lawless area bordering Pakistan where insurgent activity is high.
A foreign office source said US forces conducted the rescue attempt and that no British troops were involved. Media said that American special forces had mounted the operation.
Reuters