MattGray
30th Aug 2012, 07:58
Three lost to yet another "green on blue" event. :ugh:
FIVE Diggers have been killed and two wounded in Afghanistan in Australia's worst combat losses in a single day since the Vietnam War. Three soldiers from the 3rd Battalion Royal Australian Regiment were killed at a forward patrol base in Oruzgan province yesterday by a rogue Afghan soldier who fled the scene. A hunt is underway for the gunman, who opened fire on the Diggers from close range.
Two other Diggers were wounded in the same incident, one seriously, acting defence chief Air Marshal Mark Binskin told reporters today.
In an unrelated incident early today, two special service soldiers were killed in a helicopter crash in Helmand province.
There was no sign of enemy fire before the International Security and Assistance Force helicopter crashed and rolled over as it landed.
The deaths represent Australia's worst combat losses in a 24-hour period since the Battle of Long Tan, in Vietnam.
Defence has some details of the perpetrator of the insider attack, which occurred while the soldiers were relaxing at the end of the day, Air Marshal Binskin said.
“We're currently trying to track him as he's escaped. But I don't want to get into any more details on him at the moment,” he said.
Air Marshal Binskin said he was not sure of the attacker's motives or the events leading up to the shooting.
The three killed in the so-called “green on blue” incident were all based at Enoggera Barracks in Brisbane.
They were a 40-year-old lance corporal on his second tour of Afghanistan, posted to the 2nd/14th Light Horse Regiment, and two privates, a 23-year old infantryman from 6th Battalion and a 21-year-old sapper from 2nd Combat Engineers Regiment.
Air Marshal Binskin said the helicopter crash occurred on landing during an “insertion” operation at about 2.17am local time (7.47am AEST).
“It appears the helicopter has landed and rolled over,” he said.
FIVE Diggers have been killed and two wounded in Afghanistan in Australia's worst combat losses in a single day since the Vietnam War. Three soldiers from the 3rd Battalion Royal Australian Regiment were killed at a forward patrol base in Oruzgan province yesterday by a rogue Afghan soldier who fled the scene. A hunt is underway for the gunman, who opened fire on the Diggers from close range.
Two other Diggers were wounded in the same incident, one seriously, acting defence chief Air Marshal Mark Binskin told reporters today.
In an unrelated incident early today, two special service soldiers were killed in a helicopter crash in Helmand province.
There was no sign of enemy fire before the International Security and Assistance Force helicopter crashed and rolled over as it landed.
The deaths represent Australia's worst combat losses in a 24-hour period since the Battle of Long Tan, in Vietnam.
Defence has some details of the perpetrator of the insider attack, which occurred while the soldiers were relaxing at the end of the day, Air Marshal Binskin said.
“We're currently trying to track him as he's escaped. But I don't want to get into any more details on him at the moment,” he said.
Air Marshal Binskin said he was not sure of the attacker's motives or the events leading up to the shooting.
The three killed in the so-called “green on blue” incident were all based at Enoggera Barracks in Brisbane.
They were a 40-year-old lance corporal on his second tour of Afghanistan, posted to the 2nd/14th Light Horse Regiment, and two privates, a 23-year old infantryman from 6th Battalion and a 21-year-old sapper from 2nd Combat Engineers Regiment.
Air Marshal Binskin said the helicopter crash occurred on landing during an “insertion” operation at about 2.17am local time (7.47am AEST).
“It appears the helicopter has landed and rolled over,” he said.