Inquiry Officer Report Into April 27th-28th Incident Completed
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Government - Defence Press Release18th December 2009, 01:54pm - Views: 724
 DEFENCE MEDIA RELEASE Issued by Ministerial Support and Public Affairs, Department of Defence, Canberra, ACT Phone: 02 6127 1999, Fax: 02 6265 1545 MSPA 437/09 Friday, 18 December 2009 INQUIRY OFFICER REPORT INTO APRIL 27-28 INCIDENT COMPLETED Defence has concluded its inquiry into an incident that occurred on 27th and 28th of April 2009 in which four people were killed and two were wounded in Oruzgan Province after they were observed digging into the road-side in a number of locations. It was believed that the Afghans were laying Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs). The Chief of Joint Operations, Lieutenant General Mark Evans, directed an Inquiry Officer to establish the facts relating to this particular operation following claims that the people killed were farmers doing irrigation work at night. The Inquiry Officer concluded that on the balance of probabilities, it was very likely that the people engaged were laying IEDs. The inquiry found that during the conduct of the pre-approved operation eight individuals were observed acting suspiciously along a footpad at about 9:30pm on 27 April in a particular area of Oruzgan Province where insurgents are active. The group was observed for over three hours. The targets were then engaged using close air support. Having inquired into the incident and evaluated the evidence for and against the claims that those killed were farmers, the Inquiry Officer found that the Commanding Officer was justified in his belief that the people targeted were laying IEDs. The Inquiry Officer also found that the Commanding Officer took all reasonable steps to confirm in his own mind that he was targeting insurgents laying IEDs. He received positive identification of the targets on three occasions prior to authorising the engagement, which was conducted utilising an appropriately qualified and certified Joint Terminal Attack Controller (JTAC) to prosecute the mission. Part of the JTAC’s procedures is to ensure that no civilians are within the danger area before the target is engaged. The Inquiry Officer concluded that ADF personnel that night complied with the Rules of Engagement governing immediate targeting. Lieutenant General Evans has now closed the inquiry process. Media contact: Defence Media Liaison: (02) 6127 1999 or 0408 498 664 |
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