Afghanistan — Petraeus Launches Investigation Into Aid Worker Death

WASHINGTON, Oct. 11, 2010 — The com­man­der of U.S. Forces Afghanistan has launched an inves­ti­ga­tion into the cir­cum­stances that led to the death of a British aid work­er, mil­i­tary offi­cials said today.

Lin­da Nor­grove was kid­napped by insur­gents Sept. 26 and held in cap­tiv­i­ty in east­ern Afghanistan’s Kunar Province. She died dur­ing res­cue oper­a­tions by U.S. forces on Oct. 8. Army Gen. David H. Petraeus launched the inves­ti­ga­tion into Norgrove’s death after receiv­ing addi­tion­al infor­ma­tion from the mil­i­tary com­man­der in charge of the res­cue oper­a­tion con­duct­ed by U.S. forces in con­sul­ta­tion with the British gov­ern­ment, offi­cials said. 

Ini­tial reports indi­cat­ed the explo­sion was caused by a det­o­na­tion trig­gered by one of the cap­tors who was in close prox­im­i­ty to Nor­grove, offi­cials said. How­ev­er, the cause of her death could not be con­clu­sive­ly deter­mined by sub­se­quent review of sur­veil­lance footage and dis­cus­sions with res­cue team members. 

At Petraeus’ request, Marine Corps Gen. James N. Mat­tis, com­man­der of U.S. Cen­tral Com­mand, has appoint­ed Army Maj. Gen. Joseph L. Votel, of U.S. Spe­cial Oper­a­tions Com­mand, to con­duct the investigation. 

The inves­ti­ga­tion team will work in close coop­er­a­tion with British authorities. 

Source:
Com­piled from U.S. Cen­tral Com­mand and U.S. Forces Afghanistan News Releases 

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