Officials Probe Western Afghanistan Shooting Incident

Compiled from International Security Assistance Force Joint Command News Releases

WASHINGTON, Aug. 25, 2010 - Officials are investigating a shooting incident today in western Afghanistan's Badghis province that left an Afghan National Police member, two International Security Assistance Force servicemembers and a civilian dead.

The cause of the shooting incident is still unclear, ISAF Joint Command officials said, but reports indicate that during a mentoring session between ISAF forces and Afghan National Police, an ANP member fired several rounds and ISAF members returned fire. The ANP member was killed, along with the two ISAF soldiers and the civilian.

After the incident, a demonstration occurred near the camp where the shooting took place. Afghan soldiers and police monitored the demonstration, officials said, adding that further details would be released as they become available.

In other news from Afghanistan, a combined Afghan police and ISAF patrol found a large weapons cache in Uruzgan province's Deh Rawud district yesterday. The cache of 150 rocket-propelled grenades was destroyed at a nearby coalition facility.

Elsewhere, an Afghan boy was killed and another boy was wounded when insurgents attacked Afghan and ISAF soldiers Aug. 23 in Logar province's Pul-e Alam district.

Officials said the soldiers were attacked while conducting a search near a compound. The combined force, recognizing the risk to civilians in the area, did not return fire, officials said, but instead moved a mine-resistant, ambush-protected vehicle between the civilians and the attacking insurgents when they saw two children who were fleeing the area fall to the ground. Insurgents' small-arms fire hit only the two boys.

A medic rushed to the children's aid and began to treat their injuries. The unit requested a medical evacuation aircraft for the injured boys and support from armed helicopters in the fight against the insurgent element.

The boys, both in their teens, were transported by coalition vehicles to a coalition hospital. The elder boy died, and the younger boy underwent surgery for wounds to his legs.