SKIP TO MAIN CONTENT

Afghan 'boasts of shooting diggers'

Concern is growing that a video of an Afghan soldier apparently boasting of shooting three Australian soldiers could build mistrust between Aussie troops and their Afghan counterparts.

diggers_afgh_b_defence_922898896
(File: AAP)

3 min read

Published

Updated

Source: AFP


Skip to article content

An Afghan soldier who opened fire on Australian troops at a remote base last year has claimed he and his fellow army recruits had often discussed killing the foreigners, a report said.

In a Taliban video, Mohammed Roozi talks about how he attacked Australian and Afghan soldiers at Patrol Base Nasir in November, saying he turned a machine gun and rocket launcher on them before going into hiding.

Roozi, who seriously injured three Australians and two Afghan soldiers in the attack, has been the subject of a manhunt ever since.

News that makes sense

Your trusted source for staying up-to-date with the world around you. Get free daily news updates and analysis, straight to your inbox.

By subscribing, you agree to SBS’s terms of service and privacy policy including receiving email updates from SBS.

"I had one mission on my mind -- to kill foreigners and teach them a lesson. We are Muslims. We cannot accept foreigners," The Sydney Morning Herald cites Roozi as saying in the video.

The former soldier in the Afghan National Army, members of which are being trained by Australian soldiers serving in Afghanistan, said on the day of the attack he prepared the grenade launcher and his gun in front of his mentors.

"A soldier ran to me and asked me what I was doing," he said. "He suspected my motives. I told him that it was none of his business -- I opened fire. When the bullets ran out it was time to use the rocket launcher."

Roozi also said he was not the only Afghan soldier to harbour murderous thoughts about the western mentors they were working alongside.

"We used to sit there and they were telling these things (attacking foreigners) and whenever it was possible we will do this," Roozi reportedly said.

The Australian military said it had "reason to believe" the man in the propaganda video was Roozi but it said his allegations, which include that he killed 12 Australians, were false.

"Mohammed Roozi is clearly relying on the insurgency for support following his cowardly attack," an Australian Defence Force spokeswoman said.

"His statements are designed to support an ongoing insurgent propaganda campaign and are designed to justify his illegal act."

Australian soldiers were shot at on three separate occasions by Afghan National Army troops in 2011, with the worst incident being when an Afghan opened fire on a military parade, killing three Australians and wounding seven.

Canberra, which first committed to the Afghan war in 2001 before pulling out only to re-enter in 2005, has so far lost 32 soldiers in the conflict. It has 1,550 troops stationed in the strife-torn country.


Get SBS News straight to your inbox

Sign up now for daily news from Australia and around the world. You can also subscribe to Insight's weekly newsletter for in-depth features and first-person stories.

By subscribing, you agree to SBS’s terms of service and privacy policy including receiving email updates from SBS.

Follow SBS News

Download our apps

Listen to our podcasts

Get the latest with our News podcasts on your favourite podcast apps.

Watch on SBS

SBS World News

Take a global view with Australia's most comprehensive world news service

Stream now

Watch the latest news videos from Australia and across the world