AU Soldiers Wounded In Roadside Bomb Attack

Australian Soldiers Wounded In Roadside Bomb Attack

Two Australian soldiers and a dog serving with the Mentoring and Reconstruction Task Force (MRTF-1) have been wounded in a road-side bomb attack in southern Afghanistan.

The soldiers were conducting a security patrol on Friday morning (30 January 2009) when the Bushmaster Protected Mobility Vehicle they were travelling in was struck by an improvised explosive device (IED).

The wounded soldiers and dog were successfully evacuated by helicopter to an International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) medical facility for treatment.

Both soldiers received non-life threatening wounds to their lower body and are in a stable condition. One soldier will be evacuated to Germany for specialist treatment. The other wounded soldier will continue to receive medical treatment in Afghanistan and is expected to return to duty. The dog is also doing well and is also expected to return to duty.

The families of the wounded soldiers have been informed. The ADF will not release the personal details of the wounded soldiers.

The IED caused damage to the Bushmaster, however, the protection provided by the Bushmaster again contributed to saving the lives of Australian soldiers.

This attack highlights the ongoing danger that all Defence personnel in Afghanistan face.

Taliban insurgents continue to use IEDs in their indiscriminate attacks on civilian and military targets.

The ADF will not release additional information regarding this incident as operations are ongoing and release of more detail may endanger the lives of our personnel.

ENDS

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