AFL Explosive Ordnance Disposal Response Proves Capable

Corporal Dopoh and team gain information and brief military and LNP respondents in a safe Area at the scene. LNP, AFL Military Police and UNPOL reps all assisted with clearance of civilians from houses and maintaining a secure cordon for the disposal task.

The item was correctly identified as a 107 mm mortar dating back to the 1990’s. The item was assessed as unsafe to move and was prepared for destruction in place.

The mortar was successfully destroyed at 11am without damage to the building foundation or surrounding area.

The AFL EOD operators, LNP, UNPOL and technical advisors and Mr. Mathew Glayweon (black shirt, white trouser) and his colleagues after the item was disposed.

George Tan EOD Technical Advisor debriefs the team, showing blast effects on fragmentation on the item. Total task time 2 hrs and 15 minutes. AFL EOD team completed all actions with very little intervention from the Technical Advisors.

On 1st May 2014, Lt Col Davidson Forleh of the Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL) HQ J3 Operations (J3 Ops) informed UNMAS that an item of unexploded ordnance (UXO) had been found on building site and was reported to 23 Brigade HQ in the vicinity of EBK military barracks ( Camp Scheifflen). AFL J3 Ops requested UNMAS technical oversight to deploy the AFL explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) team from Gbarnga to respond to the task. AFL EOD Team was deployed on Friday 2 May to EBK and responded to the task on Saturday morning at 9am.