British troops in Afghanistan’s Helmand Province will in future eye donkeys with suspicion after the Taliban strapped an improvised explosive device to an unfortunate beast of burden and sent it”galloping” towards a military camp.
Major Richard Streatfeild, of the 3rd Battalion the Rifles Regiment,said the insurgents had “really outdone themselves” with the four-legged assault in the Sangin Valley. He reported: “Fortunately the gate guard noticed something suspicious when a group of men let the donkey go a short way from the camp and then hurried off.
“He tried to divert the animal but it eventually had to be stoppedwith a rifle shot. A team went out and realised there was something supicious under the hay.”
One soldier set fire to the hay with a flare, the Telegraph explains, provoking a “considerable explosion”, but without casualties. Streatfeild said: “No-one was hurt thanks to the swift action taken and they were saved from a very unusual attack.“
Expect a sternly worded letter from the PETArds about how the Taliban shouldn’t use innocent animals in attacks on evil humans in 3… 2… 1…
