Militants claim responsibility for Iraq crash
A radical Islamic group has claimed responsibility for the weekend plane crash which claimed nine British lives in Iraq.
The Hercules C-130 aircraft went down on its way to the city of Balad, north west of Baghdad. This is outside the normal operation area of British troops and the purpose of the flight has not been made clear.
The crash represents the biggest single loss of life for the British armed forces since the US-led invasion of Iraq in March 2003.
US and UK troops have now secured the crash site and the RAF has launched an investigation into the causes of the crash. Both military officials and the government have refused to speculate on the cause of the crash.
But, the launch of the investigation comes amid reports that a terrorist group has claimed responsibility for shooting the aircraft down.
Various media outlets are reporting that the militant group Ansar- al-Islam is claiming responsibility for the plane crash. Ansar-al-Islam claims that its fighters fired an anti-tank missile at the plane. The group is one of the older militant groups and is believed to have close links to Al-Qaeda.
Some British newspapers have also speculate that members of the SAS were on board the flight.
Tony Blair said Britain and the wider world would never forget the contributions of those who had died.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with the families of those who lost their lives earlier today,” he said. “They can be so proud of what their loved ones accomplished. This country, and the wider world, will never forget them.”
The crash came as eight million Iraqis went to the polls to vote in historic elections in the war torn Middle Eastern state.
Foreign Secretary Jack Straw is due to make a statement on Iraq in the Commons this afternoon. It is thought that he is likely to make a statement on the crash as well as the wider issue of the Iraqi elections.
