17 Spanish soldiers have died after their helicopter crashed in Afghanistan.
The helicopter went down near the western city of Herat this morning while on a training exercise for upcoming parliamentary elections.
It was initially thought the crash was definitely accidental but it is now believed it may have been the result of an attack.
'On seeing pictures, an attack by a third party can absolutely not be ruled out,' said Spanish Defence Minister Jose Bono.
Today's crash comes less than two months after a US military helicopter was shot down by suspected Taliban militants in the eastern Afghan province of Kunar, killing all 16 people on board.
