Rest in peace to the fallen. I haven’t a clue what company this was or if they were Afghan or expat? Either way, this type of stuff is a tragedy. But what is even more of a tragedy is how little information there is on this. Because I guarantee that if this was the other way around and that contractors were the ones that killed some Coalition Forces, the media and world would be all over it.
So if anyone has information to add that could fill in these crucial details, I will make the edit. It would also be nice for a change if ISAF would actually reach out to bloggers like myself or even Tim, and include us in their strategic communications. I know they read the blog, and they certainly have an active Facebook page, so what gives? –Matt
Edit: 08/29/2010 – According to Paladin 6 from the Knights of Afghanistan blog, the chatter in Afghanistan is pointing towards Watan Risk as being the company, and it was two local national security contractors that were killed. See comment below.
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2 contractors killed in Afghanistan
August 28, 2010
Two private security contractors in Afghanistan were killed by coalition forces who mistook them for insurgents, the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force said Saturday.
The incident happened Friday on a highway in the central province of Wardak, ISAF said.
A coalition patrol on the highway had just been fired at by insurgents in a location known as a hot spot for attacks, ISAF said. A vehicle then approached the coalition patrol at a high rate of speed with a man shooting out of the vehicle’s windows.
“Perceiving the vehicle to be a threat, the gunner fired at the vehicle and killed two of the occupants,” ISAF said.
Coalition forces learned afterwards that the two people killed were private security contractors, ISAF said. Their employer wasn’t immediately known.
ISAF said the contractors were probably trying to return fire against the same insurgents who had just attacked the coalition vehicle, and they had increased their speed to “break contact.”
Coalition forces are now looking into the incident, ISAF said.
Story here.
Matt-
According to reports I received from people operating in the area, the two men killed were local nationals working for Watan Risk Management. Employees of another (Western) PSC witnessed the shooting and confirmed most of the details in the story above.
P6
Comment by PaladinSix — Sunday, August 29, 2010 @ 2:11 AM
P6,
Thanks for the information. If you hear anything else, please feel free to come back and comment. -matt
Comment by headjundi — Sunday, August 29, 2010 @ 2:30 AM