DEFENCE MEDIA RELEASE
Issued by Ministerial Support and Public Affairs, Department of Defence, Canberra, ACT
Phone: 02 6127 1999, Fax: 02 6265 1545
MSPA 381/09
Tuesday, 10 November 2009
DIGGERS DISCOVER EXPLOSIVE CACHES AND
IMPROVISED EXPLOSIVE DEVICES IN SOUTHERN
AFGHANISTAN
Australian Defence Force soldiers conducting operations in southern Afghanistan
have uncovered a major cache of explosives during a series of routine search
operations over the past week.
The cache, one of 10 significant finds discovered over the last few weeks, was
uncovered on Friday (6 November 2009) containing 93 individual pieces of military
grade explosives – about 23 kilograms in weight.
Other caches, uncovered during the period, held a variety of weapons, ammunition
and explosives, including a number of 107mm rockets.
Engineers from the 2nd Mentoring and Reconstruction Task Force (MRTF-2) also
disposed of a number of carefully concealed improvised explosive devices (IEDs)
discovered by patrols in locations north of Tarin Kowt over the past week.
The Commander of Australian Forces in the Middle East, Major General Mark Kelly,
says the cache and IED finds represent another success for the people of Oruzgan
Province.
“Every time we uncover weapons and munitions caches and IEDs like these, we are
potentially depriving those who wish to maim and kill innocent people of the means
to do so,” Major General Kelly said.
Major General Kelly said that the removal of explosive material would improve the
safety and security for all Afghan people in Oruzgan and for the Coalition troops who
are working alongside their Afghan National Security Force (ANSF) colleagues.
“This hidden materiel is used to make IEDs. As the insurgents’ weapon of choice,
they are used to indiscriminately target innocent Afghan civilians and Coalition
forces,” Major General Kelly said.
“These finds and our ongoing operations with the ANSF, highlight the commitment of
Australian forces in Oruzgan to support the ISAF mission of protecting the Afghan
population.”
Imagery is available on the Defence website at:
Media contact: Defence Media Liaison: 02 6127 1999 or 0408 498 664
NEWS 
