The Taliban have claimed they planned to launch an attack on a helicopter carrying
David Cameron, during his first visit to Afghanistan as prime minister in June, from a base in Helmand province.
Senior military figures called on Downing Street to urgently review security arrangements after reports that insurgents came closer to bringing down Cameron's helicopter than was previously thought.
The prime minister's plans were changed at the last minute when intercepts of
Talibanradio messages indicated they knew which helicopter he was flying in to visit troops in the province.