British forces are blasted over the death of 15-year-old looter in Iraq

BRITISH forces were criticised over the drowning of an Iraqi looter  in a report yesterday.

Ahmed Ali, 15, was seized by four soldiers in Iraq for looting in May, 2003.

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He was taken to the Shatt Al Basra canal where he and other looters were forced into the water as an unofficial punishment.

But while the others escaped the youngster floundered and drowned.

The report published yesterday said: “The immediate circumstances which caused his death are clear: the soldiers, having detained him for looting, forced him to enter the canal and left him floundering.

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“The soldiers’ actions give rise to grave concerns about their ability to cope with the responsibilities imposed upon them.”

The Iraq Fatality Investigations is an inquest-style inquiry led by Sir George Newman to probe deaths of Iraqis where no soldier has been convicted of a crime.

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It is the third inquiry faced by the soldiers.

An MOD spokesperson said: “This was a grave incident for which we are extremely sorry.

“We are committed to investigating allegations of wrongdoing by UK forces and will use Sir George’s findings to learn lessons to help ensure nothing like this happens again.”