Army officer fears for bomb experts

The Army's top bomb disposal officer resigned after expressing concerns about the pressures on his team operating in Afghanistan, it was disclosed. The Ministry of Defence confirmed that Colonel Bob Seddon quit as principal ammunition technical officer of the Royal Logistics Corps. An Army spokesman said in a brief statement that he would be leaving the service in January. In a documentary to be broadcast on Monday night, Col Seddon suggested that he needed more operatives on the ground and raised fears over the psychological impact of the job. In his interview for the programme, Col Seddon said the Army was looking to bring more people into IED disposal teams but added that the measures would take "some time". Col Seddon, who won a Queen's Commendation for Bravery in Iraq in 2006, also expressed his fears over the effect of the high-pressured job on the mental health of his team members. Defence Secretary Liam Fox said that countering the IED threat to British forces in Afghanistan was a "top priority" for the new coalition Government.

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ITN | May 24, 2010

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