OTTAWA, Aug. 24 -- The Department of National Defence today released the findings of two separate investigations surrounding the circumstances of the vehicle mine strike and suicide bomber attack that occurred in Kabul, Afghanistan, on October 2, 2003, and January 27, 2004, respectively. These incidents resulted in the deaths of two soldiers and injuries to four others in the first instance, and the death of one soldier and injuries to three others in the second instance. The review processes have concluded that neither incident was preventable and supported the in-theatre decision making of field commanders in undertaking the patrols in question. "The reports make clear findings and recommendations and answer our key questions about what happened in Kabul in these terrible incidents," said General Ray Henault, Chief of the Defence Staff. "Implementation of some of the recommendations is already underway. We are committed to putting measures in place that will lessen the risk to our soldiers conducting these types of missions." In the case of the Jowz Valley mine strike where the Iltis patrol vehicle struck a TM-57 Anti-Tank mine, the road on which the incident occurred had been used as recently as two hours prior to the incident and numerous times in the previous 24 hours. The choice of the Iltis for this patrol was appropriate given the factors known at the time of the incident. The Board of Inquiry into the suicide bomber attack found that, at the time, the Iltis was the most suitable vehicle that the Canadian Forces had for patrolling in an urban environment like Kabul. Furthermore, there was no evidence to suggest a risk of potential suicide bomber attacks on this route used by ISAF and the Canadian Forces. Last week, senior officers from the Army privately briefed the families of the soldiers killed and injured in these incidents on the details of the investigations. The released portions of the Board of Inquiry final report on the vehicle mine strike can be found on DND website at http://www.vcds.forces.gc.ca/boi_jowz . The released portions of the Board of Inquiry final report on the suicide bomber can be found on the DND website at http://www.vcds.forces.gc.ca/boi_kabul. Portions of the reports could not be released for reasons of privacy, and operational security. - 30 - For further information: (613) 996-2353/54; After hours: Pager: (613) 792-2973, World Wide Web: http://www.dnd.ca
