DUBAI, Jan 31 (AFP) - Al-Qaeda linked extremist group Ansar al-Islam has claimed it downed a British military transport plane in Iraq in which 10 personnel were killed, in a statement posted on an Islamist website Monday.
"A group of young mujahedeen from Ansar al-Islam managed to detect a C-130 Hercules flying at low altitude from Baghdad to Balad (northeast of the Iraqi capital) and downed it with a guided rocket," said the statement, whose authenticity could not be confirmed.
"A fire and clouds of smoke could be seen rising from the site of the crash, which occurred (on Sunday) at 5:25 pm (1425 GMT), killing all members of the plane's crew," the statement said.
British Defense Secretary Geoff Hoon said Monday that nine Royal Air Force personnel and a soldier died in the crash between Baghdad International Airport and Balad airbase.
"We are aware of reports that the aircraft may have been shot down, but we are not in a position to come to any conclusions until the investigation is complete," he said.
01/31/2005 13:02 GMT - AFP