Intelligence

September 11, 2000

Dramatic rescue operation

BBC NEWS | World | Africa | Dramatic rescue operation

Monday, 11 September, 2000, 10:53 GMT 11:53 UK
The dramatic operation in which British forces rescued the seven hostages held by the West Side Boys was complex, risky, and meticulously planned.
Up to 150 troops and five helicopters took part in the two-pronged assault, as dawn was breaking over the Sierra Leone jungle hideout.

The timing of the operation was crucial: There was just enough light for the helicopters to see where they were going, but they could not be easily spotted themselves.

Speed was also of the essence. The hostages were being guarded by about 50 men and women, who were ready to start shooting at first sight of a helicopter.

Three giant Chinook helicopters ferried 110 soldiers from the renowned Parachute Regiment into the two landing zones, while two smaller Lynx helicopters provided supporting fire.

Within 20 minutes, the hostages were in a helicopter, being whisked back to safety after their 16 day ordeal in captivity.

Two-pronged attack

The most daunting military problem facing planners was the fact that the West Side Boys had at least two encampments, separated by the 300 metre-wide Rokel Creek.

One position, to the south, was effectively able to provide covering fire for the other, to the north, where the hostages were being held.

Both positions had to be attacked simultaneously. The northern camp, the West Side Boys' headquarters, was quickly overwhelmed.

But the southern position took much longer to secure. Fierce fighting continued for up to an hour and a half, with British troops even having to use mortars.

The militia group lost 25 dead and about 18 of their fighters were captured, including their commander.

One British soldier was killed in the attack, and another was seriously injured. Eleven more personnel received what are described as light injuries.

Massive operation

The Army, Navy and RAF were all used to overpower the rag-tag militia group, who were thought to number about 200, many of them women and children.

There has been unconfirmed speculation that the elite SAS troops were also used to provide information and take part in the attack.

Defence analyst Colonel Andrew Duncan said he believed special forces would have been "key", rescuing the hostages while other soldiers concentrated on distracting the West Side Boys.

It has been claimed that the West Side Boys are an ill-disciplined group, often high on drink and drugs, but they are also well-equipped and determined fighters

The BBC's Allan Little in Freetown, the capital of Sierra Leone, said the West Side Boys managed to retreat after the initial assault and then open fire on the rescuers from the edge of the jungle.

He said the operation continued into the late afternoon as British forces consolidated their position and then carefully withdrew troops and equipment.

Jungle experience

The West Side Boys are also experienced jungle fighters, and were intimately familiar with the terrain, a mixture of jungle and mangrove swamps.

However, the Parachute Regiment soldiers who made up the bulk of the rescue force also have jungle experience.

They served in Sierra Leone for three weeks earlier this year and returned on Thursday after flying to Dakar in Senegal from the UK last week.

Hostage crisis
25 August: 11 British soldiers captured with Sierra Leonean colleague
30 August: Militiamen free five British soldiers
31 August: Kidnappers issue political demands
6 September: Plan for military operation finalised
10 September: Remaining hostages freed

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September 10, 2000

Bloody end to Sierra Leone hostage drama

BBC News | AFRICA | Bloody end to Sierra Leone hostage drama

Sunday, 10 September, 2000, 20:51 GMT 21:51 UK
One British soldier and 25 Sierra Leonean militiamen, including three women, have been killed during a raid which freed six British hostages.
The UK Ministry of Defence said another British soldier had been seriously injured and 11 suffered light wounds.

But the six British soldiers and a Sierra Leonean officer were all rescued unhurt after the dawn raid on the militia camp in the Occra Hills east of the capital Freetown.

UK Prime Minister Tony Blair paid tribute to the 150 troops, on board five helicopters, who carried out the mission, which rescued the men, who had been held since 25 August.

'Mock executions'

Eighteen members of the West Side Boys militia - 15 men and three women - have also been captured, including the group's leader "Brigadier" Foday Kallay.

The raid was launched after the West Side Boys made repeated threats to kill the captives and carried out "mock executions".

Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon said the decision to move in came after a breakdown of talks with the group, and following reports they staged "mock executions" on the British soldiers, all members of the Royal Irish Regiment (RIR).

Blair pays tribute

Mr Blair said his thoughts and prayers were with servicemen's families.

He said: "I cannot pay high enough tribute to the skill, the professionalism and the courage of the armed forces involved.

"Inevitably, in such an operation as this, there are casualties. The details of these will be given out later."

The freed hostages, along with the Sierra Leonean army officer, are now safely aboard the British naval vessel Sir Percival in the harbour of the capital Freetown.

At the RIR's headquarters in Ballymena, County Antrim, there was intense relief, but the celebrations were tempered by news of the rescuers' casualties.

General Sir Charles Guthrie, chief of the defence staff, saide there had been "significant resistance" from the West Side Boys.

"They fought very hard and there were women among the fighting, some of whom may have been among the casualities."

But the General refused to give further details of British casualties.

The rescue operation centred on a militia camp in the Occra Hills, situated on both sides of a 300 metre-wide creek surrounded by swamps.

The raid began at first light on Sunday as men from the 1st Battalion the Parachute Regiment, along with RAF and Royal Navy forces, began their assault on the camp outside Freetown.

Mr Hoon said a military operation was only authorised after negotiations were seen to be failing.

"We tried to negotiate the solution with some success. Five hostages were released."

He said the West Side Boys had received a satellite telephone, food and medical supplies to meet their demands.

But at the last meeting with Brig Kallay the demands had got unreasonable.

"He was pressing for quite unreasonable and unattainable political concessions," said Mr Hoon.

Blair authorised mission

A Downing Street spokesman said Mr Blair authorised the troops' move on Wednesday, and gave the final go-ahead for the mission to free the soldiers from the Royal Irish Regiment on Saturday afternoon.

A Ministry of Defence spokesman told BBC News Online the Sierra Leone Government and the United Nations had been kept fully informed.

Authorisation for this military operation was taken at the highest level

MoD spokesman
News of the raid - given by Gen Guthrie during a pre-arranged interview with Sir David Frost on the BBC's Breakfast With Frost programme - came out of the blue.

Five of the British soldiers were released last Wednesday and are being returned to Britain this week.

But the released soldiers' senior officers are understood to be no closer to understanding how their group was captured in the first place.

It appears they may have become caught up in a local political dispute.

The West Side Boys included former government army troops who said they want the peace agreement signed last year renegotiated.

The elected and British-backed Sierra Leone government publicly rejected this demand, saying it would encourage more of the lawlessness which has plagued the country for a decade.

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