rotorcraig
6th May 2006, 11:22
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4979950.stm
British chopper crashes in Iraq
A British helicopter has crashed in Basra, the UK military in the southern Iraqi city has confirmed.
http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/41643000/jpg/_41643074_iraq_bas_bag_map203.jpg
Local police told news agencies the aircraft had crashed into a house after being hit by a rocket.
There are no confirmed casualties, but Iraqi firefighters told Reuters news agency there were four bodies at the crash scene.
British soldiers deployed in the city sealed off the area around the incident, witnesses told Reuters.
"We can confirm that there has been a helicopter crash in Basra," said a British military spokesman in the city.
"British troops are on the scene assisting and emergency services are present," he added.
Shots fired
Video footage from Iraqi television showed orange flames and large plumes of black smoke curling into the sky.
British troops were seen running through the streets, firing shots into the air.
The footage also showed hundreds of Iraqis near the scene of the crash waving their arms in the air and throwing stones.
The BBC's Jim Muir in Iraq said roadside bombs were common in the area but rocket attacks relatively rare.
He said if it was confirmed a missile had hit the helicopter, it would be one of the most serious incidents since British forces deployed in Basra three years ago.
British chopper crashes in Iraq
A British helicopter has crashed in Basra, the UK military in the southern Iraqi city has confirmed.
http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/41643000/jpg/_41643074_iraq_bas_bag_map203.jpg
Local police told news agencies the aircraft had crashed into a house after being hit by a rocket.
There are no confirmed casualties, but Iraqi firefighters told Reuters news agency there were four bodies at the crash scene.
British soldiers deployed in the city sealed off the area around the incident, witnesses told Reuters.
"We can confirm that there has been a helicopter crash in Basra," said a British military spokesman in the city.
"British troops are on the scene assisting and emergency services are present," he added.
Shots fired
Video footage from Iraqi television showed orange flames and large plumes of black smoke curling into the sky.
British troops were seen running through the streets, firing shots into the air.
The footage also showed hundreds of Iraqis near the scene of the crash waving their arms in the air and throwing stones.
The BBC's Jim Muir in Iraq said roadside bombs were common in the area but rocket attacks relatively rare.
He said if it was confirmed a missile had hit the helicopter, it would be one of the most serious incidents since British forces deployed in Basra three years ago.