United Kingdom British Army News
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| Thursday,
June 30, 2011, 06:34 PM |
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| British
soldiers destroyed secret Taliban training school and IED
factory in Helmand area, Afghanistan. |
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A
secret insurgent training school and a huge haul of deadly
insurgent bombs have been destroyed by British forces in
Helmand following a daylight helicopter assault and intense
fire fight. After receiving a tip-off from local people,
the 3 Commando Brigade Reconnaissance Force (BRF) uncovered
the enemy base in Nahr-e Saraj district.
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Members of 3 Commando Brigade Reconnaissance Force wait
for the dust to settle before continuing with their assault
in Helmand province
[Picture: PO(Phot) Hamish Burke, Crown Copyright/British
MOD 2011] |
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Inside
the compound, which had been laced with IEDs, the BRF found
75 pressure plate devices armed and ready to be laid in
the ground to maim and kill. Another 40 were in the process
of being constructed and there was a stash of 140 kilograms
of homemade explosives which could have been used to make
many more.
In
what is the BRF's biggest find to date, they also discovered
countless radio transmitters - used to trigger the detonators
of IEDs - and more than 30 artillery shells which had been
used to attack ISAF patrol bases nearby.
Within
the building, there was a second room that was heavily fortified
and contained even more deadly equipment. |
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A sniper from the 3 Commando Brigade Reconnaissance Force
supporting the operation to uncover an IED factory in Helmand
province
[Picture: Crown Copyright/British MOD 2011] |
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While
some of the items from the outer compound were removed for
analysis, due to the risk of booby traps in the inner compound
the BRF chose to destroy the whole room - preventing all
of the material being used by the insurgents, should they
return to salvage the remnants of their stash.
But
the victory did not come without a fight. The Royal Marines,
soldiers and engineers who make up the BRF stormed the compound,
located deep inside the contested Helmand 'Green Zone',
after reaching the area in two Chinook helicopters.
As
the troops prepared to disembark, they came under heavy,
sustained fire from all directions. The BRF returned fire
and called in support from attack helicopters to take out
the insurgent firing points. |
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