Soldiers triggered Afghan suicide bomb in checkpoint search

Lance Corporal David Kirkness, 24, from Wakefield, and Rifleman James Brown, 18, both of 3rd Battalion The Rifles (3 Rifles), were killed while manning a vehicle checkpoint east of Sangin in Helmand province.

L/Cpl Kirkness and Rifleman Brown, from Farnborough, Kent, were taking part in a joint security operation with Afghan forces on a route into central Sangin.

Opening the inquest at Wiltshire Coroner's Court, Coroner David Ridley said the suicide bomber's device was detonated when he approached the checkpoint shortly after 12.30pm. The only eyewitness account was given in a statement from an Afghan interpreter, who was not named for his protection.

Referred to as Interpreter A, he said he saw the suicide bomber wait some 100ft (30m) away from the checkpoint, as L/Cpl Kirkness and Rifleman Brown searched a blue Datsun car.

He said: "I would describe him as an Afghan male, about 28. He wore a short beard and was wearing white clothes.

"He wore traditional Afghan trousers, and a shirt in the style worn in Pakistan. On his head he was wearing a hat, it was silver-grey and in the style of a skull cap. He was alone.

"The motorcycle was Japanese and white in colour. The man had short, black hair. Once the search of the Datsun was completed, they waved the man towards them."

Interpreter A said it took the motorcyclist seconds to ride up towards the checkpoint, where he dismounted. He went on: "The two British soldiers moved towards him. As they touched him with their hands there was an explosion. There was a loud bang and smoke rising into the sky."

Interpreter A suffered a fracture in the blast and could not remember anything else, the inquest heard. The medical emergency response team came under small arms fire as they attempted to extract the men, the inquest heard.

L/Cpl Kirkness and Rifleman Brown suffered "severe" blast injuries and died later at Camp Bastion field hospital. Two Afghan National Army (ANA) soldiers were also killed.