UK PM Cameron's flight to Helmand abandoned following 'assassination plot'

London, June 11 (ANI): British Prime Minister David Cameron was forced to abandon a visit to a British base in Helmand, Afghanistan, on Thursday after military intelligence uncovered a possible plot to assassinate him.

According to The Telegraph, Cameron was scheduled to fly to Helmand when intelligence learnt of a plan to fire on his helicopter.

Cameron and the party of aides and journalists travelling with him were unharmed and no physical attack is believed to have taken place, the paper further reported.

The apparent threat to Cameron threatens to overshadow his first visit to Afghanistan since taking office, which was intended to underline the improving security situation in the country.

Cameron had arrived in Kabul on Thursday morning before flying on to Camp Bastion, the main British base in Helmand. From there, he set out on a series of visits to see British and Afghan security forces and development projects.

After visiting an Afghan agricultural project, Cameron set off for Patrol Base Shahzad near Lashkar Gar, where around 80 men from the Duke of Lancaster's regiment are based.

During the short flight - scheduled for 15 minutes - military commanders decided to abort his visit to the base, due at around 6 p.m. local time.

Shazhad is in area previously dominated by the Taliban and fought over by NATO troops during Operation Moshtarak last year. (ANI)