US personnel disciplined over Linda Norgove death

Thursday, 2 December 2010 12:00 AM

By politics.co.uk staff

US military personnel have been disciplined over the death of Linda Norgrove, the British aid worker accidentally killed by US forces in Afghanistan.

Foreign secretary William Hague informed the Commons that although personnel had confirmed that a grenade - later discovered to have killed Ms Norgrove - was thrown, that information had not been passed up the military command.

The failure to pass the information on breached US military law.

"The fact this action has been taken will confirm to this House how seriously the US authorities regard this matter," Mr Hague said.

Early reports concluded that Ms Norgrove died after her kidnappers strapped a suicide vest to her, but this was later found to be inaccurate after officials inspected military footage.

Ms Norgove was killed by penetrating fragmentation injuries to the head and chest, UK coroners found.

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• middle east