UK PM Cameron’s flight to Helmand abandoned following ‘assassination plot’
June 11th, 2010 - 12:24 pm ICT by ANI
London, June 11 (ANI): British Prime Minister David Cameron was forced to abandon a visit to a British base in Helmand, Afghanistan, on Thursday after military intelligence uncovered a possible plot to assassinate him.
According to The Telegraph, Cameron was scheduled to fly to Helmand when intelligence learnt of a plan to fire on his helicopter.
Cameron and the party of aides and journalists travelling with him were unharmed and no physical attack is believed to have taken place, the paper further reported. The apparent threat to Cameron threatens to overshadow his first visit to Afghanistan since taking office, which was intended to underline the improving security situation in the country.Cameron had arrived in Kabul on Thursday morning before flying on to Camp Bastion, the main British base in Helmand. From there, he set out on a series of visits to see British and Afghan security forces and development projects.
After visiting an Afghan agricultural project, Cameron set off for Patrol Base Shahzad near Lashkar Gar, where around 80 men from the Duke of Lancaster’s regiment are based.
During the short flight - scheduled for 15 minutes - military commanders decided to abort his visit to the base, due at around 6 p.m. local time.Shazhad is in area previously dominated by the Taliban and fought over by NATO troops during Operation Moshtarak last year. (ANI)
- Six British soldiers feared killed in Afghanistan blast - Mar 07, 2012
- Cameron visits British troops in Afghanistan - Dec 20, 2011
- Two more British soldiers killed in Afghanistan - Feb 16, 2010
- Pakistani journalist abducted by ISI? (Lead) - May 31, 2011
- Brit soldier hit in face by Taliban bullet spits it out again - Jul 13, 2010
- Special forces winning battle against Taliban insurgents: US, UK commanders - Mar 16, 2011
- More British troops ordered into Helmand badlands to rout Taliban - Jul 08, 2010
- Abducted Pakistani journalist is dead, says media (Second Lead) - May 31, 2011
- Pakistan human rights commission urges release of missing journalist - May 31, 2011
- Taleban power struggle raises fears of violence in Afghanistan - Apr 23, 2010
- Abducted Pakistani journalist tortured, killed: Official (Night Lead) - May 31, 2011
- British PM makes surprise visit to Afghanistan (Lead) - Jun 10, 2010
- Prince Charles becomes 'only royal in living memory' to visit war-torn Kabul - Mar 26, 2010
- Pakistan mourns Shahzad, killers roam free (Roundup) - Jun 01, 2011
- UK-based Taliban spend months fighting Nato forces in Afghanistan - Nov 25, 2010
Tags: agricultural project, aides, assassination plot, british prime minister, camp bastion, david cameron, development projects, duke of lancaster, helmand afghanistan, improving security, kabul, lashkar, military commanders, military intelligence, minister david, nato troops, security forces, security situation, shahzad, thursday morning