Embassy: Blackwater dead were protecting embassy employees; 4 died in downed copter, 1 shot on ground

Blackwater helicopters over Baghdad the day of the downing. It is unknown whether these were two of the three helicopters involved.

Baghdad - The US embassy in Iraq on Thursday confirmed that five US security guards working for a private firm were killed Tuesday while protecting embassy employees attending a routine meeting.

The five, who worked for security firm Blackwater, were killed during the attack in eastern Baghdad on Tuesday. The five were employed to protect US diplomats and missions in Iraq.

The US Ambassador to Iraq Zalmay Khalilzad 'regretted' the deaths, the US military reported.

Four of the guards were reportedly killed when their helicopter, which had been providing aerial protection for the building in which the meeting was taking place, came under heavy insurgent attack and was downed.

The fifth guard was killed as he sat aboard a second helicopter, the embassy said.

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Related Link:
Report: 3 helicopters were involved in Blackwater crash incident; 4 of 5 dead shot in head; 1 copter caught in electric lines

Related Link:
Report: 5 die as Blackwater security helicopter downed over Baghdad