Advertisement

Guttenberg's chopper attacked in Afghanistan

Author thumbnail
Guttenberg's chopper attacked in Afghanistan
Photo: DPA

Defence Minister Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg’s visit to Afghanistan almost turned deadly on Friday when insurgents fired on the helicopter convoy in which he was travelling, Bild am Sonntag reported Sunday.

Advertisement

The helicopter crew responded swiftly, returning fire with machine guns, the paper reported. None of the three CH-53 helicopters appeared to have been hit, there were no reports of injuries and the flight continued.

Guttenberg, who had been visiting troops at the German army’s main base in Kunduz province, was told of the attack during the flight, the paper said. The attack happened shortly after take-off.

Just days earlier, Taliban soldiers had fired on a German military chopper, hitting an exterior petrol tank and forcing the chopper to make an immediate landing.

Also travelling in Guttenberg’s convoy were the German army’s general inspector, Wolfgang Schneiderhan, and Germany’s ambassador to Afghanistan, Werner Hans Lauk.

Later on Friday, Guttenberg and his delegation left Afghanistan to return to Berlin. Guttenberg told reporters on his plane that he wanted to visit Afghanistan again soon.

During his visit, he announced a modest troop increase of 120 soldiers, who will be deployed to the Kunduz base in the north of the country.

More

Join the conversation in our comments section below. Share your own views and experience and if you have a question or suggestion for our journalists then email us at [email protected].
Please keep comments civil, constructive and on topic – and make sure to read our terms of use before getting involved.

Please log in to leave a comment.

See Also