Post by vgp on Oct 8, 2008 17:03:02 GMT 12
Kiwi injured in Afghan bomb attack
By MICHAEL FIELD - Fairfax Media | Wednesday, 08 October 2008
An explosive device has gone off near a New Zealand Defence Force patrol in Afghanistan, the military said in a statement.
One person was slightly injured in the second attack this year on the New Zealander troops stationed there.
The statement said the patrol in Bamyan Province was forced to stop after one of its vehicles suffered damage from an Improvised Explosive Device (IED).
One member of the patrol suffered a "very minor cut to the face", was treated at the scene and has returned to active duty.
The IED was in much the same area of another in March this year which also damaged a vehicle but hurt no one.
"The area in which the patrol took place is known for having tribal and criminal tensions between different groups and as a result the patrol was larger than normal," Commander Shaun Fogarty said.
"Currently NZDF personnel remain at the site of the IED awaiting the arrival of an investigation team who'll examine the site."
He said they were reviewing the security status of the area and the possibility of an increased threat.
"This incident is another reminder that we can't be complacent."
Bamyan until now has been relatively quiet unlike the east and south east where NATO forces are engaged in severe conflict with the Taliban and al Qaeda.
New Zealand has a 140-strong Provincial Reconstruction Team in the province.
Last Sunday 129 personnel departed from Ohakea Air Force Base to begin the next six-month deployment to Afghanistan.
www.stuff.co.nz/4720386a12.html
By MICHAEL FIELD - Fairfax Media | Wednesday, 08 October 2008
An explosive device has gone off near a New Zealand Defence Force patrol in Afghanistan, the military said in a statement.
One person was slightly injured in the second attack this year on the New Zealander troops stationed there.
The statement said the patrol in Bamyan Province was forced to stop after one of its vehicles suffered damage from an Improvised Explosive Device (IED).
One member of the patrol suffered a "very minor cut to the face", was treated at the scene and has returned to active duty.
The IED was in much the same area of another in March this year which also damaged a vehicle but hurt no one.
"The area in which the patrol took place is known for having tribal and criminal tensions between different groups and as a result the patrol was larger than normal," Commander Shaun Fogarty said.
"Currently NZDF personnel remain at the site of the IED awaiting the arrival of an investigation team who'll examine the site."
He said they were reviewing the security status of the area and the possibility of an increased threat.
"This incident is another reminder that we can't be complacent."
Bamyan until now has been relatively quiet unlike the east and south east where NATO forces are engaged in severe conflict with the Taliban and al Qaeda.
New Zealand has a 140-strong Provincial Reconstruction Team in the province.
Last Sunday 129 personnel departed from Ohakea Air Force Base to begin the next six-month deployment to Afghanistan.
www.stuff.co.nz/4720386a12.html