DEFENCE MEDIA RELEASE
Issued by Ministerial Support and Public Affairs, Department of Defence, Canberra, ACT
Phone: 02 6127 1999, Fax: 02 6265 1545
MSPA 028/10
Tuesday, 2 February 2010
THREE AFGHAN SOLDIERS KILLED, TWO WOUNDED AND
ONE AUSTRALIAN SOLDIER WOUNDED IN SEPARATE
INCIDENTS
Three Afghan National Army (ANA) soldiers have been killed, and two wounded
after an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) detonated under the vehicle in which
they were travelling.
In a separate incident, an Australian soldier was slightly wounded when his
Bushmaster vehicle struck an IED in another location.
Both attacks occurred while the soldiers were on separate patrols north of Tarin Kowt
in southern Afghanistan on Saturday, 30 January 2010.
Members of the Second Mentoring and Reconstruction Task Force, who observed the
strike on the ANA vehicle, moved rapidly to render assistance to the wounded before
coordinating an aero-medical evacuation of the soldiers from the area for further
medical treatment.
The Australian soldier wounded in the earlier IED strike on his Bushmaster vehicle
received first aid on the spot for a superficial wound. He has been placed on restricted
duties and is expected to make a full recovery.
A ramp ceremony was later held by ANA, Australian and Coalition forces for the
Afghan soldiers killed.
“We extend our condolences to the families of those soldiers that have been lost,”
Chief of Joint Operations, Lieutenant General Mark Evans, said.
Lieutenant General Evans said the two incidents are a reminder of the constant threat
IEDs pose to personnel in Afghanistan.
“These incidents yet again remind us of the high threat environment coalition soldiers
continue to face as they work to restore peace to the country,” Lieutenant General
Evans said.
This is the first Australian soldier to be wounded in Afghanistan in 2010.
Media note: Imagery is available at:
Media contact: Defence Media Liaison: (02) 6127 1999 or 0408 498 664
NEWS 
