Latest News

During the morning of 19 September 2005 two British soldiers were detained at the Jamiat Police Station in Basra.  During the day MND(SE) sent troops to the area near the police station to help ensure their safety by providing a cordon.  These troops were attacked by a small but violent crowd.  Three UK personnel were injured in the disturbance.

Concerns over the safety of the two detained soldiers grew after MND(SE) received information that they may have been handed over to militia.  UK Forces from 12 Mechanized Brigade took a decision to enter the police station.  They found that the soldiers were no longer being held by the Iraqi Police, and mounted an operation to rescue them from a house in Basra.

We are pleased to be able to confirm that the two soldiers who were detained have been returned to UK forces, and that the three soldiers who were injured are recovering and their injuries are not life-threatening.

Damage was caused to the prison compound and to the house in which the two UK soldiers were held.

The situation in Basra is now calm.  UK Forces continue to work closely with local authorities and Iraqi Security Forces to maintain peace and stability.

On the evening of 19 September, Brigadier John Lorimer, Commander of 12 Mechanized Brigade, released the following statement:

"During the morning two British soldiers were detained at the Jamiat Police Station in Basra.  Under Iraqi law, as MNF soldiers, they should have been handed over to the Coalition authorities.  The Consul-General and I asked repeatedly for this but it did not happen.

"During the day we went to exhaustive lengths to achieve the hand-over of the soldiers.  And in fact, as a result, we understand that the Iraqi Interior Minister personally ordered the release of the soldiers.  However, that order seems to have been ignored.

"From an early stage, I had good reason to believe that the lives of the two soldiers were at risk and troops were sent to the area of Basra near the police station to help ensure their safety by providing a cordon.  As shown on television, these troops were attacked with fire-bombs and rockets by a violent and determined crowd.

"Later in the day, however, I became more concerned about the safety of the two soldiers after we received information that they had been handed over to militia elements.  As a result I took the difficult decision to order entry to the Jamiat police station.  By taking this action we were able to confirm that the soldiers were no longer being held by the IPS.  An operation was then mounted to rescue them from a house in Basra.

"I am delighted that the two British soldiers are back with British Forces and are in good health.  We will be following up with the authorities in Basra why the soldiers were not immediately handed over to MNF as Iraqi law (CPA Order 17) says that they should have been.

"I should put the scale of yesterday's disorder into context.  British armoured vehicles being attacked by a violent crowd, including with petrol bombs, makes graphic television viewing.  But this was a small unrepresentative crowd (200-300) in a city of 1.5 million.  The vast majority of Iraqi people in MND(SE) are law abiding and value the contribution made by coalition forces to  maintaining stability and security.

"It is of deep concern that British soldiers held by the police should end up being held by militia.  This is unacceptable and I should stress that we won’t hesitate to take action against those who are involved in planning and conducting attacks against coalition forces.

"Looking ahead, I should stress that the situation in Basra is now calm.  We will continue to work closely with local authorities to maintain this calm, and with the Iraqi Security Forces who capabilities we are helping to develop.  It was a difficult day yesterday, but we have put this behind us and will move on."

Speaking in interviews on the morning of 20 September, Secretary of State for Defence John Reid confirmed that all British troops involved in the incident were safe:

"First of all, the two servicemen [who were arrested] are safe, they're with the British.  The three young men that you saw in those very sensational photographs, I'm very glad to say that they do not have life threatening injuries and obviously I want to commend the courage and commitment of all of those involved. 

"We will not cut and run when faced with this violence.  We will protect our soldiers, but we will stand by the majority of people in Iraq who want to run their own country democratically and not be dictated to by either the mob or the terrorist.

"These are difficult times.  There is no doubt that the aim of the terrorist and those who want to use mob violence will increase as we get towards the elections at the end of the year."

The Ministry of Defence is not responsible for the content or availability of external internet sites.