Arrest over killing of Red Caps

The Red Caps were killed in southern Iraq in 2003

An Iraqi man has been arrested in connection with the killing of six Red Caps more than five years ago.

The Red Caps were attacked by an angry mob on 24 June 2003 while defending a police station in Al Majar al-Kabir, 120 miles north of Basra.

They had been helping to train police in the town of Al Majar al-Kabir in southern Iraq.

The deaths came after a gun battle between local people and a unit from the parachute regiment.

Soldiers from the 1st Battalion, the Parachute Regiment, were ambushed earlier on the day before.

The officers killed in Al Majar al-Kabir were: Cpl Paul Long, 24, of Colchester in Essex, Sgt Simon Hamilton-Jewell, 41, of Chessington, Surrey, L/Cpl Ben Hyde, 23, of Northallerton, North Yorkshire, Cpl Russell Aston, 30, of Coton-in-the-Elms, Derbyshire, Cpl Simon Miller, 21, from Washington, Tyne and Wear, and L/Cpl Thomas Keys, 20, from Llanuwchllyn, near Bala in Wales.

In a statement, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) said: "We can confirm that an individual has been detained by the Iraqi authorities in relation to this investigation.

"The case falls within the jurisdiction of the Iraqi Courts but British authorities will continue to provide assistance as required."