US grenade killed Norgrove, PM hints

London: British aid worker Linda Norgrove may have been killed by a grenade thrown by US troops trying to rescue her from Taliban kidnappers in Afghanistan, David Cameron said yesterday.

The prime minister announced that a full UK-US investigation was now being launched into the circumstances surrounding Norgrove's death on Friday.

At a press conference, Cameron said that General David Petraeus, the commander of Nato forces in Afghanistan, had contacted his office yesterday morning to say a review of the rescue operation had revealed she "may not have died at the hands of her captors" as originally thought.

Cameron said: "Linda's life was in grave danger from the moment she was taken ... He [Petraeus] and US forces did everything in their power to bring Linda home safely."

He added: "In the end this is an issue of a very difficult judgment ... You can never be certain that an option like this will lead to the rescue of the hostage ... In the end you have to make a decision whether to go ahead or not." He said he felt like it had been the right decision based on what the UK and US knew at the time.

He said he was "deeply sorry" that the situation had "not worked out the way we all wanted it to".

Asked if he had considered using British special forces to rescue Norgrove, the prime minister said: "Of course I asked a huge number of questions."

He says he followed the advice of Petraeus, who was on the ground, adding that it would have been strange to overrule the advice of US officials. Cameron also thanked US forces for their "courage", and said that statements made on Saturday as to how Norgrove died, which now appear to be incorrect, were made in good faith.

Asked whether there was any suggestion US forces were reckless, the prime minister said: "We must get to the bottom of what happened; we only have sketchy information." Petraeus "deeply regrets what happened, as do I," Cameron said.

It had initially been reported that Norgrove died after her rebel captors detonated a bomb vest as American troops attempted to rescue her.

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

Three Afghan nationals also taken by the insurgents were later released, but Norgrove continued to be held amid growing concern.

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

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

Cameron said: "Linda's death is a tragedy for her family and those who worked alongside her in Afghanistan. She was a dedicated professional doing a job she loved in a country she loved."

Cameron informed Norgrove's family of the "deeply distressing development" before making his announcement at a scheduled press conference that was delayed by almost an hour yesterday morning.

Speaking from the Isle of Lewis today, Norgrove's father, John Norgrove, said: "We are not saying anything to the press at the moment. We might issue a statement in another day or two, we're not certain, but now we are not saying anything." Asked whether that was the case in light of Cameron's comments yesterday, Norgrove said: "We are just saying that, end of story."

Cameron said the decision to mount a rescue operation was made by William Hague, the foreign secretary, "after careful consideration" and had his full support as prime minister.

Norgrove's life was in "grave danger" from the moment she was seized, and there were fears that she might be passed up the terrorist chain and put at greater peril if she was not rescued.