US probe into aid worker’s Afghanistan death
The United States Central Command has launched an investigation into how the captive British aid worker Linda Norgrove died during a rescue attempt by US special forces in Afghanistan.
President Barack Obama called Prime Minister David Cameron last night to offer his condolences as the investigation was launched.
It emerged yesterday that Ms Norgrove may have been accidentally killed by her American rescuers rather than by her Afghan kidnappers as was originally suggested.
US Central Command has launched an investigation into the incident, and invited members of the UK armed forces to contribute.
A spokesman for No 10 said: “The president offered his condolences for the death of Linda Norgrove.
“They agreed that the decision to launch the rescue operation had been right, given the grave danger to Linda’s life, and that US forces had shown great courage.
“The Prime Minister and the president agreed that it was now essential to get to the bottom of what had happened in the course of the rescue operation.
“They looked forward to close co-operation between the UK and US authorities on the investigation and agreed to stay in close touch as it moved forward.”
Ms Norgrove, who worked for US aid firm Development Alternatives Inc (DAI), was seized by militants in Kunar province on 26 September.
A rescue attempt was launched at the weekend but she died during the operation.
When we are told something in good faith, we must tell the country that information in good faith. Foreign Secretary William Hague
US officials initially said Ms Norgrove died when her captors detonated a suicide vest, but General David Petraeus, the American commander in Afghanistan, told the Prime Minister yesterday that a review of the information available suggested she might have been the victim of “friendly fire”.
Mr Cameron described Ms Norgrove’s death as a “tragedy” and said he would do “everything I possibly can” to give her family details on how she died.
DAI vice president Betsy Marcotte, who visited Ms Norgrove’s family on the Isle of Lewis, said she did not blame US troops for her colleague’s death.
Ms Marcotte told BBC Radio 4‘s Today programme: “Clearly it is distressing news, but it doesn’t change anything for me.
“I feel confident in how this was handled and that we have been satisfied that the British and the Americans were doing everything they could.”
After spending the day with the Norgrove family, Ms Marcotte told Today: “I really feel that they are doing remarkably well, given how difficult this is.
“It reminds me again that Linda exuded strength and was a very calm presence and very comfortable in her own being. Certainly that was something I was always impressed with when I was with her.”
Foreign Secretary William Hague declined to say how long he expected the inquiry into Ms Norgrove’s death to take.
“We are interested not so much in the timing as in finding out what happened,” he said.
Mr Hague acknowledged that it was embarrassing to have to revise the Government’s initial account of how she died.
“Yes, it is for all of us, absolutely. As I said in the House of Commons yesterday, we regret it.
“But I think we always have to err on the side of transparency, rather than waiting for certainty.
“When we are told something in good faith, we must tell the country that information in good faith.
“Of course, it can turn out to be wrong, but that is better than hiding any information. It is better than withholding things that we know or have been told.”
The investigation
US Central Command has appointed a special operations commander, Major General Joseph Votel, as head of the investigation into Ms Norgrove’s death.
Britain is to appoint Brigadier Rob Nitsch of Joint Support Force in Kabul – the head of logistics for UK forces in Afghanistan – to “work closely” with the US general, Downing Street said today.
“The teams are discussing precisely how that work will take place and the detailed terms of reference,” said a Downing Street spokesman.
The investigation will look over video surveillance of the operation and audio reports to determine what happened during the rescue attempt. A spokesman for US Central Command said there was no deadline for the inquiry and that evidence would be dealt with as speedily and thoroughly as possible.
US Central Command commander General James Mattis will discuss the investigation with Mr Cameron’s national security adviser Sir Peter Ricketts during a visit to London tomorrow.