OEF Update, June 9, 2009: Russian-made Grenade Used by Militants in Kunar Attack That Wounded 54

Pictured above is a composite illustration of components of a Soviet-era grenade found at the scene of an attack on coalition forces and Afghan civilians in Asadabad, Konar, today. An insurgent threw the grenade into a crowd of Afghan civilians and children as coalition forces attempted to move a vehicle stuck in a street approximately 75 meters from the Asadabad mosque. As many as 54 civilians were wounded and one 12-year-old boy was killed by the blast; three U.S. Soldiers were also wounded. Afghans wounded in the attack immediately received first aid from the Konar PRT, who arrived on the scene shortly after the blast; the injured were then transferred to the local hospital for further treatment. Insurgent forces have been known to use such weapons in anti-coalition attacks. (Courtesy Photo, U.S. Forces Afghanistan.)

Pictured abover are components of a Soviet-era grenade found at the scene of an attack on coalition forces and Afghan civilians in Asadabad, Konar, today. The serial number appearing on the grenade component is in Cyrillic script. An insurgent threw the grenade into a crowd of Afghan civilians and children as coalition forces attempted to move a vehicle stuck in a street approximately 75 meters from the Asadabad mosque. As many as 54 civilians were wounded and one 12-year-old boy was killed by the blast; three U.S. Soldiers were also wounded. Afghans wounded in the attack immediately received first aid from the Konar PRT, who arrived on the scene shortly after the blast; the injured were then transferred to the local hospital for further treatment. Insurgent forces have been known to use such weapons in anti-coalition attacks. (Courtesy Photo, U.S. Forces Afghanistan.)

Dispatches from the Front:

KABUL, Afghanistan, June 9, 2009 -- Investigators reviewing evidence found at the scene of a militant grenade attack near Asadabad, the provincial capital of Kunar today, have determined that the grenade was Russian-made. Experts analyzed fragments of the device found in the area of the explosion, and reached that conclusion.

Three coalition troops and as many as 54 innocent Afghan citizens were wounded in the blast. Those injured were treated by coalition forces at the scene, and then transported to military and civilian care facilities.

Coalition forces were attempting to free a vehicle that had become stuck when they were attacked with small arms fire. An unknown person from a nearby building threw the grenade, which caused the death and injuries.

(From a U.S. Forces Afghanistan news release.)

Tags: DOD, Military, War, United States, U.S., Afghanistan, Operation Enduring Freedom, OEF, al Qaeda, al Qaida, GWOT, terrorism, Taliban, Open Thread, Wire, Headlines, Dispatches from the Front
Global Tags: Washington DC, News and Politics, News, Politics, Current Events, Current Affairs, Life, Culture, Buzz, Tension