5 British Soldiers Killed

Just a month after an Afghan policeman killed two American soldiers during a joint patrol, history is repeating itself. Another Afghan policeman, sympathetic to Taliban insurgents—who may have infiltrated the ranks—opened fire on British soldiers on Tuesday in the Helmand province, killing five soldiers and wounding six in one of the deadliest single attacks against British troops since 2001. The incident occurred during a relaxed moment, while British soldiers were checking the roof of a checkpoint near a health clinic along with some Afghan police officers. The Brits were not wearing body armor. The Afghan officer began firing an automatic weapon without warning at the British soldiers, who returned fire, killing one police officer and injuring two.