News Release
Canadian Soldier Killed - One Other Wounded in Afghanistan
January 15, 2008
OTTAWA –At approximately 7:15 a.m. local time
(in Kandahar) on January 15th, one Canadian soldier was killed when
the armoured vehicle he was in struck a suspected Improvised
Explosive Device (IED). One Canadian soldier was also injured.
The identity of the deceased soldier is Trooper Richard Renaud,
26 years old, of the 12e Régiment blindé du Canada based in
Valcartier, Québec.
The
incident occurred during a presence patrol in the Arghandab
District, approximately 10 km North of Kandahar city. The injured
soldier was evacuated to the Multinational Medical Unit at Kandahar
Airfield. The injured soldier is in good condition, has notified
his family and is expected to be released from the hospital shortly.
The thoughts and prayers of the men and women of the Canadian
Forces go out to the family and friends of Trooper Renaud.
--more--
CBC NEWS
The explosion happened at about 7:15 a.m. local time during a
routine patrol in the Arghandab district of Kandahar province, about
10 kilometres north of the city of Kandahar, Brig.-Gen. Guy Laroche
said at Kandahar airfield.
Trooper Richard Renaud, 26, from Alma north of Quebec City, was
killed in the explosion, Laroche said. He was a member of the
Valcartier-based 12e Régiment blindé du Canada, which can
be informally translated as the 12th Canadian Armoured Regiment.
(The unit has no formal English name.)
The soldiers were riding in a Coyote armoured reconnaissance
vehicle when it hit the improvised explosive device (IED), Laroche
said.
The second soldier is doing well and has contacted his family, Laroche
added. Two other soldiers in the vehicle were not injured.
This was the third roadside bomb attack against Canadian soldiers
in as many days, although the previous two attacks resulted only
in minor injuries.
Laroche dismissed speculation that the Taliban are gaining
confidence in their operations, saying the recent attacks
were simply a continuation of hostilities the southern provinces
throughout the summer months.
Brig. Gen. Guy Laroche.
(CBC)
Despite the latest death and apparent increase in IED attacks,
Laroche said the resolve among Canadians soldiers in the mission is
stronger than ever.
"Whether you lose one or ten, it's always difficult," he said. "I
would like to convey my most sincere sympathies to the families of
our lost comrade."
Most of Canada's 2,500 troops participating in the
NATO-led International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan are
in and around Kandahar province.
The death brings the total number of Canadian soldiers killed in
Afghanistan since the mission began in 2002 to 77. One Canadian
diplomat has also died on the mission.