Australian UN Peacekeepers Injured In Explosion

Department of Defence Media Release

Saturday, 12 August 2000

Australian UN Peacekeepers Injured In Explosion

Four Australian soldiers serving with the United Nation Peacekeeping Force in East Timor have been injured in an explosion in East Timor.

All from 6th battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment, they are now is a stable condition in the UN Hospital in Dili.

The incident occurred yesterday (Friday, August 11) at 5.50pm (East Timor time) at Memo, which is about 5km south-west of Maliana, where an infantry section from the Battalion maintains an Observation Post.

It is believed the four men were standing near a fire in the garbage point, set up near the perimeter of the section base, when the explosion occurred.

One of the injured soldiers suffered wounds to the chest, and all sustained burns.

First aid was provided at the explosion site and two Army Back Hawk helicopters and an aero-medical evacuation team flew the casualties to the hospital, arriving at 7.55 pm. local time.

Army engineers and ordnance technicians have been flown to the site to determine the cause of the explosion and military police investigators will questions the four casualties when appropriate (expected to be today).

Next of kin have been informed.

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