Sunday, 10 October 2010

Linda Norgrove: British Aid Worker Was Killed By Bomb Vest Blast During Afghanistan Rescue Bid | World News | Sky News

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Breaking News

Kidnapped Brit Killed By 'Bomb Vest Blast'

10:40am UK, Sunday October 10, 2010

Huw Borland, Sky News Online

A British aid worker died after her kidnappers in Afghanistan detonated a bomb vest as American troops tried to rescue her, it has emerged.

The mission to save Linda Norgrove from her captors was authorised by Foreign Secretary William Hague, officials said.

The Government defended the decision to launch the military assault, saying it was "right to try" to secure the release of Ms Norgrove, a 36-year-old aid worker from Scotland.

Her father John Norgrove told The Sunday Times his family was "devastated" by the news.

General David Petraeus, the top Nato and US commander in Afghanistan, said troops did "everything in their power" to save the woman, who colleagues described as an "inspiration".

Linda was a courageous person with a passion to improve the lives of Afghan people.

General Petraeus

Originally from Sutherland in the Scottish Highlands, Ms Norgrove was seized by militants in Kunar province on September 26.

After a tip-off revealed her whereabouts, US troops in the eastern province were sent in.

During the fighting, seven insurgents were shot dead, it is believed. But Ms Norgrove was killed by her captors before she could be secured and led to safety.

According to reports, Ms Norgrove was either wearing the bomb vest or it had been held close to her before being detonated.

British aid worker Linda Norgrove, 36

She died during a bid to free her

A former United Nations employee, Ms Norgrove was working for the firm Development Alternatives Inc (DAI) at the time of her kidnap.

Based in Jalalabad, she supervised reconstruction programmes in the eastern region of Afghanistan funded by the US government.

After studying at universities in the UK and Mexico, she became an environmental specialist at the World Wildlife Fund in Peru, before working first for the UN in Afghanistan and Laos and then for DAI.

DAI president James Boomgard said "Linda loved Afghanistan and cared deeply for its people, and she was deeply committed to her development mission.

"She was an inspiration to many of us here at DAI and she will be deeply missed."

Gen Petraeus said: "Linda was a courageous person with a passion to improve the lives of Afghan people, and sadly she lost her life in their service."

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