World

Prince Harry’s Wartime Role Draws Reprisal Fears

Tuesday, January 22, 2013 11:16 pm | < 1 Minute Read
London (AP) —
Britain’s Prince Harry sits in his cockpit as he prepares for a mission, at the British controlled flight-line in Camp Bastion, southern Afghanistan in this photograph taken October 31, 2012, and released January 22, 2013. (REUTERS/John Stillwell/Pool)
Britain’s Prince Harry sits in his cockpit as he prepares for a mission, at the British controlled flight-line in Camp Bastion, southern Afghanistan in this photograph taken October 31, 2012, and released January 22, 2013. (REUTERS/John Stillwell/Pool)

Prince Harry’s admission that he killed Taliban fighters while working as a helicopter gunner in Afghanistan drew intense British media coverage Tuesday and sparked concerns about possible reprisals.

The 28-year-old prince spoke in a pooled interview published late Monday after he was safely out of Afghanistan. He had spent the last 20 weeks deployed as a co-pilot and gunner in a heavily armed Apache attack helicopter.

Asked if he had killed from the cockpit, the third-in-line to the British throne said: “Yeah, so, lots of people have.”

The response was immediate Tuesday: The Daily Mirror tabloid ran a page-one headline “Royal Sensation Harry: I Killed Taliban” along with a photo of Harry in combat gear.

In Parliament on Tuesday, Defense Minister Mark Francois praised Harry, saying the prince should be commended for his bravery.

This article appeared in print .

To Read The Full Story

Are you already a subscriber?
Click to log in!

Learn More