British Contractor Shoots Two Colleagues in Iraq

[UpInArms]

Source: Washington Post

BAGHDAD, Aug. 9 -- A British private security contractor was taken into custody by Iraqi authorities in Baghdad's Green Zone early Sunday after he fatally shot two colleagues, Iraqi officials said.

The gunman, identified as Danny Fitzsimmons, also shot an Iraqi as he attempted to flee the compound, according Iraqi officials and two other sources familiar with the incident. The Iraqi man was critically wounded, Maj. Gen. Abdul Karim Khalaf, a spokesman at Iraq's Interior Ministry said.

"I can confirm the deaths of two ArmorGroup Iraq employees in the early hours of this morning in a firefight incident," company spokesman Patrick Toyne-Sewell said in an e-mail.

He identified the slain men as Paul McGuigan, a Briton, and Darren Hoare, an Australian. Toyne-Sewell said their relatives have been notified.



Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/08/09/AR2009080900867.html

[nadinbrzezinski]

1. How fast until mercs leave this place for Afghanistan?

I mean they are now liable

[Blue_Tires]

8. how fast until the mercs leave that place for OUR neighborhoods?

[bemildred]

2. Drunks with guns, how nice. nt

[peacetalksforall]

3. So, the Brits are also paying for private police.

[Stella_Artois]

4. Possibly not

There isn't a British presence in Iraq save the Embassy and a very few troops in the south doing training.

Its more likley these are employees of an American company doing security for another company who just happen to be British.

[Vidar]

5. Good point.

[legin]

6. unfortunately I think we do have a few

Aegis Defense Services seems to be one of a few that I vaguely remember.

It is the reincarnation of Sandline International which got into to trouble for gun running to African states in 1998
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sandline_International

It's head Lt Col Tim Spicer seems to quite an active chap, I think I have seen him on TV in britain a few years ago, defending the Iraq war.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tim_Spicer

[legin]

7. Olive Security is another one

"...Created by Harry Legge-Bourke, the brother of the former nanny to princes William and Harry..."
http://www.corpwatch.org/article.php?id=11355
(some other companies mentioned at the link too)

[sabra]

9. Iraqis hold UK worker after 2 deaths

Source: The Age

A BRITISH security worker could face the death penalty in Iraq after he was arrested on suspicion of murdering two colleagues in Baghdad's Green Zone.

The contractor, named by sources as Daniel Fitzsimons, was being questioned by Iraqi police over the shooting deaths of Briton Paul McGuigan and Australian Darren Hoare. All three worked for Armor-Group Iraq, a private security firm.

''He's now in Iraqi police custody and he will be tried under Iraqi law,'' said Major-General Abdul-Kareem Khalaf.

If convicted, the contractor could face execution, he said.

Several security contractors were having an after-work drink in Baghdad early on Sunday morning when a row erupted. One pulled out a pistol and shot two dead.

Read more: http://www.theage.com.au/national/iraqis-hold-uk-worker-after-2-deaths-20090810-efou.html