Australian Soldier sustains minor wounds while stopping Insider Attack

On the morning of Saturday 26^th October 2013, an Afghan National Security Force member opened fire on coalition soldiers during a meeting in the Qargha region of northern Afghanistan. Australian Defence Force and New Zealand Defence Force personnel were at the meeting.

Australian soldiers rapidly responded to the threat and the ANSF soldier was shot. It is not known whether the Afghan soldier was killed in the incident.

As a result of the Afghan’s attack, one soldier from the New Zealand Defence Force was wounded and one of the Australian soldiers providing force protection sustained minor fragmentation wounds.

Acting Chief of the Defence Force, Air Marshal Mark Binskin has praised the prompt response of the Australian personnel.

“From initial reporting, it would appear that our soldiers reacted promptly and professionally, potentially saving any other ISAF or Afghan personnel from sustaining wounds or worse,” Air Marshal Binskin said.

The two wounded soldiers received immediate treatment at the location and were aero-medically evacuated to an ISAF facility for further treatment.

“It is impossible to completely remove the threat of insider attacks, but the actions of the ADF Force Protection soldiers demonstrate that our training and force protection techniques are appropriate and prepared to respond, when incidents such as this occur,” he said.

The incident occurred at 9am (local time) in the Qargha region, a short distance from Kabul, at an ANA facility near the Afghan National Army OfficerAcademy where Australian and other ISAF personnel are assisting in training future Afghan Army Officers.

The Australian soldier is expected to return to duty shortly.

Enquiries relating to the wounded New Zealand Defence Force soldier are to be directed to New Zealand authorities.

To date, 15 ADF personnel have been wounded in Afghanistan in 2013.  

Defence will not release further details at this time.