German Paratrooper, Roman Schmidt

Roman Schmidt

Stabsgefreiter (Staff Corporal) Roman Schmidt was 22 years old when he was  killed during a suicide bomb blast on 20th October 2008. At the time, he and a colleague were searching for a hidden weapons cache in Kunar province, Afghanistan.

He joined the German Army on New Years Day 2005 and was assigned to the 2nd Company, 263rd Paratrooper Battalion.

He had previously in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

German Paratrooper, Patrick Behlke

Patrick Behlke

Stabsunteroffizier (Staff Sergeant) Patrick Behlke was one of two German Paratroopers killed, 20th October 2008, during a suicide bomb blast as they searched for a hidden weapons cache in Kunar province, Afghanistan.

The 25 year old belonged to the 2nd Company, 263rd Paratrooper Battalion. He joined the German Army on New Years Day 2004 and was assigned to the unit after initial training. He had been in Afghanistan since September 2008.

This was his second overseas deployment. He previously served with EUFOR in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Aid worker shot dead in Kabul

Gayle Williams

Gayle Williams was an aid worker for SERVE Afghanistan of joint British and South African nationality. She was shot dead on her way to work in Kabul by two men on a motorbike on 20th October 2008.

Zabiullah Mujahid, a spokesman for the Taliban, claimed responsibility for her death and said she had been killed "because she was working for an organization which was preaching Christianity in Afghanistan."