Telegram 231 iraqrep to fco london 26 october 2003 rocket attack on al rasheed hotel

FI INAUN 1O FOOLN 260635Z OCT GRS 384 UNCLASSIFIED FM IRAQREP TO FLASH FCO TELNO 231 OF 260635Z OCTOBER 03 INFO IMMEDIATE SECURITY COUNCIL POSTS, MIDDLE EAST POSTS, EU POSTS INFO IMMEDIATE MODUK, PJHQ, BO BAGHDAD, HMT, DFID, DTI, INFO IMMEDIATE CANBERRA, OTTAWA FCO FOR RESIDENT CLERK SUBJECT: ROCKET ATTACK ON AL RASHEED HOTEL SUMMARY 1.Another rocket attack on the Rasheed hotel. One US citizen killed, and many injured, including a Brit. DETAIL 2.At 0615 local time on 26 October the al Rasheed Hotel suffered another rocket attack. Early reports say that one US citizen is dead, three (including one Brit, Jacob Nell, a Treasury secondee) seriously injured and 15 others receiving medical attention. 3. Six rockets hit the hotel. They were fired from wasteland approximately 400 metres to the west of the hotel. A rocket launcher has been found; it appears to have been a similar device that was used in the first attack on 27 September. - 4. Jacob Nell is currently undergoing surgery for blast injuries, cuts and lacerations, mainly to his legs and lower body. His condition is not thought to be life threatening. We have been in direct contact with his family and his fiancee, and will arrange for them to speak with Jacob when he recovers from surgery this afternoon. I will visit him as soon as the medics approve. 5.1 am holding a meeting at 12 o'clock local time for all UK civilian staff in Baghdad and will report further on initial DECLASSIFIED that correct measures are taken for the safety of our staff. GREENSTOCK YYYY MVLNAN 7165 NNNN DECLASSIFIED