Canadian soldiers kill Afghan police officer
{{date|August 27, 2006}}
{{Canadian news}}
In the second of what was termed a "regrettable incident" this week, an [[Afghanistan|Afghan]] {{w|National Police}} officer was shot and killed by [[Canada|Canadian]] soldiers. Canadian troops opened fire on an Afgan National Police vehicle that was approaching a military installation west of [[Kandahar]].  Armed personnel on board the vehicle returned fire, resulting in a shootout between the Canadians and the Afgan police. The occupants of the vehicle are now believed to be members of Afganistan's secret police force, the Amaniyat. Members of Amaniyat do have uniforms, but rarely wear them and rarely travel in marked vehicles.

"It is believed that the persons in the vehicle opened fire in response to warning shots fired by the Canadians," said Col. Fred Lewis, commander of the Canadian forces in Afganistan. "It was at this time [that] Canadian soldiers returned fire on the vehicle and its six occupants."   The six were taken to the multinational military hospital at Kandahar airfield and are undergoing treatment.  They are currently listed in serious but stable condition.

40 minutes later, a second incident occurred reminiscent of a shooting earlier this week in which a 10 year old boy was killed. Two motorcyclists were injured when they approached the same artillery installation at allegedly  high speed. Canadian troops opened fire on the motorcycle riders after they allegedly failed to heed warning shots.  "Efforts to slow or divert the scooter failed and troops subsequently fired shots in self-defence. One man was injured by a shot while the other wounded when the scooter ran off the road," stated a press release from NATO.  The motorcyclists were later identified as also being members of the Afghan police.

"It would appear that Canadian soldiers reacted in self-defence in both incidents, one of which was regrettably a friendly force on friendly force engagement," Lewis said.

NATO apologized for the incidents, describing both shootings as self-defence reactions to volatile circumstances.  Canada's military investigative body, the NIS and the Afghan police will investigate the shootings. 

{{haveyoursay}}
== Related news ==

*{{wikinews|title=Bodies of Afghan boy, Canadian soldier returned|date=August 25, 2006}}
*{{wikinews|title=Canadian soldier kills 10 year old Afghan boy|date=August 23, 2006}}

== Sister links ==
{{sisters|w|Canada's role in the invasion of Afghanistan}}
== Sources ==

*{{source
|url       = http://www.cbc.ca/news/story/2006/08/26/afghanistan.html
|title     = Canadian soldiers kill Afghan police officer
|author    = 
|pub       = CBC
|date      = August 27, 2006
|brokenURL = true
}}
*{{source
|url       = http://www.canada.com/nationalpost/story.html?id=4a75d9bb-0d2c-413e-86bd-c7d461284a83&k=88985
|title     = Canadian troops kill Afghan police officer, injure six others
|author    = 
|pub       = canada.com
|date      = August 27, 2006
|brokenURL = true
}}
*{{source
|url       = http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/Canada/2006/08/26/1777919-cp.html
|title     = Cdns kill Afghan cop in friendly-fire shooting
|author    = Terry Pedwell
|pub       = canoe.ca
|date      = August 27, 2006
|brokenURL = true
}}
*{{source
|url       = http://www.news1130.com/news/national/article.jsp?content=n082711A
|title     = Canadian military bolsters investigative branch after deadly Afghan incidents
|author    = Terry Pedwell
|pub       = Rogers Media (News1130)
|date      = August 27, 2006
|brokenURL = true
}}
*{{source
|url       = http://www.pajhwak.com/viewstory.asp?lng=eng&id=23449
|title     = NATO soldiers kill Afghan policeman, injures five others
|author    = dk
|pub       = Pajwok Afghan News
|date      = August 27, 2006
|brokenURL = true
}}


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[[Category:Politics and conflicts]]
[[Category:Canada]]
[[Category:Afghanistan]]
[[Category:North America]]
[[Category:Asia]]
[[Category:Kandahar]]
In the second of what was termed a "regrettable incident" this week, an Afghan  officer was shot and killed by Canadian soldiers. Canadian troops opened fire on an Afgan National Police vehicle that was approaching a military installation west of Kandahar.  Armed personnel on board the vehicle returned fire, resulting in a shootout between the Canadians and the Afgan police. The occupants of the vehicle are now believed to be members of Afganistan's secret police force, the Amaniyat. Members of Amaniyat do have uniforms, but rarely wear them and rarely travel in marked vehicles.

"It is believed that the persons in the vehicle opened fire in response to warning shots fired by the Canadians," said Col. Fred Lewis, commander of the Canadian forces in Afganistan. "It was at this time that Canadian soldiers returned fire on the vehicle and its six occupants."   The six were taken to the multinational military hospital at Kandahar airfield and are undergoing treatment.  They are currently listed in serious but stable condition.

40 minutes later, a second incident occurred reminiscent of a shooting earlier this week in which a 10 year old boy was killed. Two motorcyclists were injured when they approached the same artillery installation at allegedly  high speed. Canadian troops opened fire on the motorcycle riders after they allegedly failed to heed warning shots.  "Efforts to slow or divert the scooter failed and troops subsequently fired shots in self-defence. One man was injured by a shot while the other wounded when the scooter ran off the road," stated a press release from NATO.  The motorcyclists were later identified as also being members of the Afghan police.

"It would appear that Canadian soldiers reacted in self-defence in both incidents, one of which was regrettably a friendly force on friendly force engagement," Lewis said.

NATO apologized for the incidents, describing both shootings as self-defence reactions to volatile circumstances.  Canada's military investigative body, the NIS and the Afghan police will investigate the shootings. 


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Politics and conflicts Canada Afghanistan North America Asia Kandahar