Civilian Casualty Incident on 29 October 2011

The ADF can confirm that it is investigating an incident that resulted in the death of Afghan male in Tarin Kot on the afternoon of Saturday, 29 October 2011 (Afghan time).

Australian soldiers were securing a meeting site for the Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT) at the time of the incident. Australian soldiers engaged and killed an Afghan male who approached the site at speed on a motorcycle and failed to adhere to all directions to stop.

Immediate medical assistance was provided to the motorcyclist after the engagement but he was unable to be saved.

The ADF takes all reasonable steps to ensure its operations do not put the lives of civilians or non-combatants in jeopardy.

Australian troops are deployed under a strict set of Rules of Engagement that are designed to minimise the risk of injury to themselves and the civilian population that they protect.

Australia will work with Afghan authorities in fully investigating the shooting.

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Defence Media Operations 02 6127 1999