US General David Petraeus last night pledged to find out how British aid worker Linda Norgrove died as her body was flown back from Afghanistan.
Gen. Petraeus, the commander of the Nato-led campaign in Afghanistan, described the investigation as a “personal priority” during talks with David Cameron in Downing Street.
A Foreign Office spokesman said: “The body of Linda Norgrove was repatriated this afternoon. An RAF flight from Afghanistan arrived at RAF Lyneham at 3.55 p.m.
“Linda’s family has asked for privacy. Our thoughts are with them at this difficult time.”
It emerged earlier this week that Ms Norgrove may have been killed by a grenade detonated by US special forces as they tried to free her from Taliban holding her captive.
Speaking after the meeting this evening, a Number 10 spokesman said Mr Cameron had raised Ms Norgrove’s case.
“General Petraeus said that the investigation was a personal priority for him and emphasised that there would be full cooperation between the US and UK,” the spokesman said.
The two men agreed operations in Kandahar and Helmand province were “proceeding well”.
The Number 10 spokesman said: “The Prime Minister confirmed that 320 British troops would be redeployed in training roles following the changes to force laydown in Helmand, to help accelerate the training effort.
“General Petraeus thanked the PM for the ongoing British commitment to Afghanistan and for the valued contribution made by British troops, civilians and equipment.”
Gen. Petraeus was also briefed by the Prime Minister about the keenly anticipated defence review to be announced next week.
There have been concerns in Washington that any scaling back of British defence capabilities may have implications for the UK’s ability to support the US in future deployments.
The visit, which lasted more than an hour and a half, came as it was reported that Ms Norgrove was killed after a US special forces soldier failed to see she had broken away from her captors.
The Guardian said she was already lying in a foetal position to keep safe when an American grenade was thrown during an attempt to rescue her on Friday night.
A US-UK investigation is under way to establish what happened. US officials initially said Ms Norgrove, 36, died after one of her captors detonated a bomb vest but it later emerged that she may have been killed by a grenade thrown by US troops.
Gen. Petraeus had already been due to meet Mr Cameron before the incident.
The Guardian said it had established, from sources in Kabul and London, that the soldier responsible was facing disciplinary action after failing to immediately inform his commanding officers he had tossed the grenade.
The newspaper also claimed the entire operation was watched on widescreen televisions at the command centre – a detail which raises further questions about why US officials initially claimed she had been killed by the bomb vest.