Finnish peacekeepers apparently came under friendly fire from Afghan police

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A Finnish soldier was wounded when two or three people opened fire on a group of Finnish peacekeepers on Sunday, while they were performing a night-movement exercise in darkness in Aybak District in Northern Afghanistan. The identity of the shooters is unknown, but according to the Defence Staff in Helsinki, it is thought quite possible that the shots were fired accidentally by Afghan police officers.
     
The group of six Finnish peacekeepers was attacked twice within 15 minutes. In both cases the Finns returned the fire, but according to Major Carl-Magnus Wasenius from the Finnish Defence Staff, it is not certain whether or not any of the attackers were hit.
      If the shooters were police officers, they obviously did not know that they were firing on peacekeepers.
     
The Finnish peacekeeper was shot in the leg and below his collarbone. He was wearing Kevlar body armour.
      After undergoing surgery twice at a Norwegian field hospital in Mazar-e-Sharif, the injured peacekeeper is reportedly in stable condition and will be repatriated today - Tuesday.
     
About 100 Finnish peacekeepers are currently involved in the Afghan operation of the NATO-led ISAF forces. The Finnish crisis management troops in Afghanistan have been placed in Kabul, Masar-e-Sharif, and Maimana.
      While the NATO countries decided last Thursday to increase the number of their peacekeepers in Afghanistan by half, Finland has no plans to increase its forces in the country.
      On the contrary, Finland's Minister of Defence Seppo Kääriäinen (Centre) said on Monday that the events leading up to the injury of the Finnish soldier would be investigated thoroughly before any conclusions are drawn about the continuation of the Afghan operation.


Previously in HS International Edition:
  Finnish peacekeeper injured in firefight in Afghanistan (2.10.2006)

Links:
  The Finnish Defence Forces

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