Five British soldiers killed by lone sniper in Basra

Sep 10 2007 by Caroline Innes, Liverpool Daily Post

A LONE sniper is believed to be responsible for the death of at least five British soldiers in Basra, including young Liverpool soldier Kingsman Alan Jones.

Ballistics experts say the bullets were all fired from the same gun and were the same calibre used by British and US forces in Iraq.

It is now understood that SAS sharpshooters are trying to track down the gunman in case British forces, now based outside the city, have to go back in.

The sniper’s confirmed death toll began with Rifleman Daniel Coffey in Basra in February.

The 21-year-old, from Cullompton, Devon, was shot while patrolling with Iraqi police.

A month later, Kingsman Danny Wilson, 28, serving with The Duke of Lancaster Regiment, was killed by a single round after leaving his Warrior vehicle to check for explosives near the Army’s Basra Palace base.

The following day, the sniper killed Rifleman Aaron Lincoln, 18, from Durham, who was also on patrol near the palace.

The fourth victim, Kingsman Jones, 20, from Liverpool, died three weeks later in the Al Ashar district of Basra.

Kingsman Jones, of the 2nd Battalion of the Duke Of Lancaster’s Regiment, was born and raised in Belle Vale and attended Saint Dominic’s Primary School before attending Cardinal Heenan Secondary School. He was shot on April 23 while providing cover for an armoured vehicle in the Al Ahar district of Basra.

The fifth victim is thought to be 19-year-old Kingsman Jamie Hancock, from Greater Manchester, hit while on sentry duty in the heart of Basra.

All five soldiers were killed by 5.56mm bullets.

Coalition troops carry the British SA-80 or American M16 which use a 5.56mm round, while the Iraqi insurgents usually carry Russian-made AK 47s with the much bigger 7.62mm round.

Confirmation that the deaths had been caused by a lone gunman came at an inquest in Cumbria into Kingsman Wilson’s death.

Coroner John Taylor was told that markings on the bullet removed from his body were consistent with those on the rounds taken from Rifleman Lincoln and Rifleman Coffey.

A ballistics expert said it was “very likely” the same rifle also killed two other soldiers, including Kingsman Jones.

It has since emerged the assassin’s toll could be much higher, with another five troops killed by a single weapon over the past three months.

TWO DIE IN AFGHANISTAN: P15

carolineinnes