Italian hostage freed in Iraq, then shot by US soldiers

smudgex68 · #1 03-04-2005, 03:55 PM

In the shoulder; but they were apparently accurate enough to kill an Italian special services agent

smudgex68 · #2 03-04-2005, 05:08 PM

Blimey

lmao

smudgex68 · #3 03-04-2005, 05:11 PM

[ QUOTE ]
"This unfortunate incident took place very near the airport: it was a shootout at a US checkpoint," Mr Berlusconi said.

"Some gunshots hit the car. One man was hit by a deadly bullet. We are petrified and astonished at this twist of fate."

[/ QUOTE ]

BCPVP · #4 03-04-2005, 07:20 PM

[ QUOTE ]
"About 2100 [1800 GMT], a patrol in western Baghdad observed the vehicle speeding towards their checkpoint and attempted to warn the driver to stop by hand and arm signals, flashing white lights, and firing warning shots in front of the car," it said in a statement.

"When the driver didn't stop, the soldiers shot into the engine block, which stopped the vehicle, killing one and wounding two others."

[/ QUOTE ]
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/mid...st/4320111.stm

That's a good way to get yourself shot in Iraq. The Italians should have known better.

smudgex68 · #5 03-04-2005, 07:24 PM

[ QUOTE ]
The Italians should have known better

[/ QUOTE ]

You've obviously never driven through Milan in rush hour

smudgex68 · #6 03-04-2005, 07:44 PM

[ QUOTE ]
The US military in Baghdad confirmed that forces shot at a vehicle and said an investigation had been launched.

[/ QUOTE ]

Right, I'm now really confident we'll get the real facts [img]/images/graemlins/confused.gif[/img]

BCPVP · #7 03-04-2005, 07:57 PM

Baghdad is not Milan. The Italian driver all but assured that they'd be shot at. In fact, if it went down like it says in the BBC, than I would expect nothing less than those boys to fire on the car. That a person is dead and the journalist is wounded is entirely the driver's fault.

The once and future king · #8 03-04-2005, 09:33 PM

Surely they were reversing towards the checkpoint?

smudgex68 · #9 03-05-2005, 08:37 AM

According to the Italian news this morning:
The US had been advised of their arrival at the airport
They had already passed thru other US checkpoints
They were 600 m from entering the airport
Over 100 rounds were fired into the car
The US soldiers did not subsequently approach the car and offer aid, thus the agent died from his wounds
Sgrena has stated they were not speeding

smudgex68 · #10 03-05-2005, 08:39 AM

We'll have to wait for the report, but it seems like a tragic accident caused by frightened, poorly trained troops.