Fire at Ammunition Holding Area

BAGHDAD – Oct. 11, 2006. Multi-National Division – Baghdad has determined that an 82mm mortar round, fired by militia forces from a residential area in Abu T-Shir, caused the fire at an ammunition holding area at approximately 10:40 p.m. Oct. 10.The fire ignited tank, artillery and small-arms ammunition at a forward operating base in the central Rasheed district of Baghdad.“Intelligence indicates that civilians aligned with a militia organization were responsible for last night’s mortar attack,” said Lt. Col. Jonathan Withington, MND-B spokesman.At the time of the attack, base personnel went to full alert. Attack aviation and unmanned aerial vehicles flew overhead in an attempt to locate the terrorists’ mortar position. Soldiers and base employees were moved immediately to the safety of hardened buildings and structures on the base. Firefighters from the base and hazardous material experts will continue to work toward extinguishing the fire. Engineers and explosive ordnance detachment teams will begin deliberate clearance of potential unexploded ordnance on the base to facilitate follow-on engineer cleanup efforts. The attack does not effect ongoing Baghdad security operations in the focus areas, and the loss of the ammunition will not degrade the operational capability of MND-B.The base’ essential services were not disrupted, and all life support remains in place. There were no reported injuries.