Update on Patrol Base Nasir Shooting Incident

The three Australian soldiers seriously wounded by an Afghan National Army (ANA) soldier in Tuesday’s shooting incident at Patrol Base Nasir have been aero medically evacuated to the Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany. They arrived on the morning of 11 November 2011.

The Australians and two of their Afghan colleagues were inside Patrol Base Nasir (Charmestan), approximately 28 kilometres north-east of Multi National Base – Tarin Kot at the time of the shooting.

Acting Chief of Joint Operations, Rear Admiral David Johnston said the three Mentoring Task Force – Three soldiers remain in a serious, but stable condition. “They are getting the best care possible from our coalition partners,” Rear Admiral Johnston said.

The operation by ADF and Afghan National Security Force elements to apprehend the offending ANA soldier continues.

“The suspected gunman has been identified as ANA soldier, Mohammad Roozi, who remains at large,” Rear Admiral Johnston said.

“As operations are ongoing, the ADF is not in a position to comment further as to the detail of these activities at this time.”

On 10 November 2011, Major General Angus Campbell, Commander of Australian Forces in the middle east and Commander of the 4th Brigade, 205 "Hero" Corps, Afghan National Army, Brigadier General Mohammed Zafar Khan visited Patrol Base Nasir.

“The Australian soldiers at Patrol Base Nasir did not label the actions of one individual as being typical of the Company of soldiers they mentor”, said Major General Campbell.

“And they're also quite comfortable to get on with mentoring. They are committed to the job. They told me they wanted to get back to mentoring, that it was a difficult job, but was one they thought was worth doing.

"I was really impressed by a quite stoic, disciplined commitment by the soldiers that I met and a sense of professional pride and quiet courage in the way they are approaching their duties. Makes you proud to be an Australian actually”, Major General Campbell said.

The 3rd Kandak, as part of the wider ANA 4th Brigade, has recommenced operations with their MTF mentors.

Additional precautions are in place across the MTF in order to reduce the risk of further incidents of this nature occurring. The specific Force Protection Measures vary, based on the specific task and conditions faced in each location.

An investigation into the incident at Patrol Base Nasir is ongoing.

Imagery of Australian MAJGEN Campbell and Afghan BRIGGEN Zafar visiting PB Nasir is available at: http://images.defence.gov.au/fotoweb/Grid.fwx?archiveId=5003=&search=11121251

Media contact:

Defence Media Operations 02 6127 1999