Royal Marine tackles human bomb on motorcycle

Telegraph:

The 40-year-old from Devon, who asked not to be named, wrestled the bomber to the ground after spotting him reach for a detonator switch on the motorcycle's petrol tank.

The 20-year-old insurgent had managed to wheel his explosive-laden vehicle close to 130 British and Afghan Army troops when he attempted to blow himself up.

His motorcycle's panniers were packed with enough explosive to have caused devastation over an estimated 200-yard area.

The bomber's first device misfired, but the popping sound of the detonator alerted the marine in time to spot him reaching for another switch connected by a bundle of wires to the saddlebags.

The marine from L Company 42 Commando grappled the bomber to the ground away from the device while comrades rushed to help. The motorcycle's panniers were later found to contain 150lb of explosive and the bomb defused by bomb disposal experts.

The incident happened a week ago near the Arghandab River, west of Kandahar in southern Afghanistan.

The 40-year-old had searched the same motorbike a day earlier when its panniers had been packed with potatoes.

He said: "I just didn't want him to push the button again to detonate the other charge.

"I heard a popping sound like the electric sound when you connect a car battery it was him trying to set off the first of two charges.

"I ran forward and grabbed him, pushing him over the motorbike bringing him to the ground.

"I was angry that he tried to kill us and I was angry with myself for bringing young marines into the situation."

Major Rich Cantrill, commander of L company, said the marine had saved many lives and with out his actions there would have been a "massive" explosion.

Major Cantrill said: "He acted with conspicuous gallantry in the situation and put himself at great peril to get the suicide bomber away from the motorbike.

...

The Major sounds like he is already reading for an award ceremony and the Sergeant certainly deserves recognition for a conspicuous act of bravery.

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