Basra statement from Brigadier John Lorimer

Guardian Unlimited | Special reports | Basra statement from Brigadier John Lorimer: "September 20, 2005

Following is a statement from Brigadier John Lorimer, commander of 12 mechanised brigade, on yesterday's incidents in Basra.

'During the morning two British soldiers were detained at the Jamiat police station in Basra. Under Iraqi law, as MNF [multinational force] soldiers, they should have been handed over to the coalition authorities. The consul general and I asked repeatedly for this but it did not happen.

'During the day we went to exhaustive lengths to achieve the handover of the soldiers. And in fact, as a result, we understand that the Iraqi interior minister personally ordered the release of the soldiers. However, that order seems to have been ignored.

'From an early stage, I had good reason to believe that the lives of the two soldiers were at risk and troops were sent to the area of Basra near the police station to help ensure their safety by providing a cordon. As shown on television, these troops were attacked with fire-bombs and rockets by a violent and determined crowd.
........................

'I should put the scale of yesterday's disorder into context. British armoured vehicles being attacked by a violent crowd, including with petrol bombs, makes graphic television viewing. But this was a small unrepresentative crowd (200-300) in a city of 1.5 million.
'"