RAID ON OMS (OFFICE OF THE MARTYR SADR) BUILDING, BASRA, 18 SEPTEMBER 2004 [Allocated Title]

Members of 1st Battalion the Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment raid a building owned by the political party the Office of the Martyr Sadr in Basra. (Note that this is a raid on a different OMS building from that shown on earlier tapes, which took place on 15 September.)

Scenes on the streets near the target building; Snatch Land Rovers and Saxon vehicle are seen both parked and advancing.

Image intensifier shots of British troops by the OMS compound; Snatch Land Rovers enter by driving through a breach in the wall (and struggling to negotiate rubble strewn on the ground. Soldier on top cover trains his gun. Warrior armoured vehicle in the compound.

Interior of building (normal light): rooms inside contain various shells and other ordnance, also a gas canister and a machete. Walls are covered with pictures of Moqtadr al-Sadr and family. Littered around are numerous other objects, including a tripod, a rocket -propelled grenade and some old shells (stored in a disused urinal), ammunition boxes and mines. Soldiers begin to inventory the large arsenal, much of which is shown to the camera. Binoculars and other items are also found; the whole building is cluttered with stuff. Rocket propelled grenades hidden in a cupboard. A makeshift workshop is also found. Views of a large number of rooms and storage cupboards, most of which contain some sort of ordnance or weapons (other items seen include automatic weapons, ID cards, books and CDs. There is also what appears to be a gunsight. The whole building is in a state of disorder and disarray. In the lobby are large numbers of photographs of Moqtadr al-Sadr. One room contains medical supplies; another is an office containing CDs and tracts. A dog rests on a nearby chair and licks the hand of a soldier.

Outside, the collected ordnance is gathered and loaded into the back of a van; a human chain carries ordnance to the van. (Note presence of the press: a reporter for Reuters can be seen in a high visibility waistcoat.)

Suddenly, there is a burst of gunfire: soldiers dash back into the building. Camera is in the lobby, focusing on the front window and (still open) door. Tracer rounds from British guns can be seen. The automatic fire lessens and is replaced by individual, larger calibre explosions. The atmosphere inside the building remains calm (one soldier even continues stacking shells.).

Firing resumes: several soldiers (none injured) enter the building. Camera focuses on a vehicle seen in the darkness of the yard, very little can be seen other than the occasional muzzle flash. Eventually, everything becomes calm.

Scenes shot with image intensifier outside (on the roof); two soldiers are behind what appears to be a trestle table. One of them says "come on, be quick and we'll cover you". Camera surveys the roof, where soldiers are on alert, training their weapons over the surrounding area. All is now quiet.

Views (normal light) inside the building, focusing on some of the captured ordnance, including an anti-tank missile. Further weapons and ordnance are removed from the building.

DVCam