At approximately 8am (approximately 4pm AEST) yesterday, members of the Australian Security Detachment (SECDET) in Baghdad fired on a vehicle at a coalition check point in the vicinity of the Australian Embassy. The incident occurred when a vehicle failed to adhere to access control measures and refused to stop despite specific signals to do so.   

Acting Director General Public Affairs Colonel Pup Elliott said: “While it is not my intent to describe the vehicle access controls affecting the security of our Embassy and other coalition facilities, the vehicle had successfully negotiated one level of controlled access and was directed to move to another control point, where amongst other security measures, the vehicle would be searched.  Inexplicably, the vehicle failed to stop as it approached this additional control point. 

“Despite clear signage, physical control measures and clear requests by Australian personnel to stop, the driver continued to drive the vehicle towards the control point showing no intention of stopping.    

“Subsequently, soldiers from both the Australian Security Detachment and a coalition member manning the Entry Control Point fired on the vehicle. Three separate volleys of fire were used before the vehicle came to a halt. 

“The SECDET members engaged the vehicle with the check point’s machine gun, a Mag 58 using separate bursts of 5–10 rounds, and a Steyr rifle. A coalition member also fired on the vehicle using a machine gun. The vehicle failed to stop after the first and second volleys of fire. The third volley of fire brought the vehicle to a halt. 

“As a result of the action, the driver of the vehicle was killed. No Australian or coalition personnel were injured in the engagement,” he said. 

Coalition International Zone Police have attended the incident site and Australian Defence Force investigators are in the SECDET location to assist with the SECDET Commander’s Quick Assessment and any subsequent formal investigation. 

Preliminary assessments indicate that the actions of the SECDET and coalition members were in accordance with their formally approved Rules of Engagement. Subsequent clearance of the incident site confirmed that the vehicle contained no explosive devices and indications are that the driver was a civilian contractor employed in the International Zone.  

A detailed investigation into the incident has been instigated by the Australian forces in conjunction with coalition authorities.