Highly experienced patrol commander Lt O'Donnell's convoy of two Humvees and two Toyota Hilux vehicles was on what Air Vice-marshal Peter Stockwell yesterday described as a routine patrol in the northeastern area of Bamiyan Province where the New Zealand Provincial Reconstruction Team's (NZPRT) mission is to extend civil authority.
The patrols are an exercise in demonstrating and maintaining the presence of the NZPRT and liaising with local authorities but are its most dangerous work.
However, the task is rendered more difficult due to the tensions between ethnic groups, including the Hazaras, the Bamiens and the Pashtuns.
About 4am, while travelling on the main highway, the convoy had just passed through the village of Dahan-E-Eshposhteh, several hours' drive to the northeast of Bamian town, home to Kiwi Base.
The "complex attack" began with the detonation of an improvised explosive device (IED), which apparently exploded under one of the vehicles of Lt O'Donnell's convoy.
The IED was "substantial" and subsequent small arms and rocket-propelled grenade fire was accurate and came from at least two locations.
"It was a well planned and co-ordinated attack from what we can assess at the moment," said Air V-m Stockwell.
The patrol was able to get out of its vehicles, seek cover in a nearby building and consolidate their position.
Chief of the New Zealand Defence Force Lieutenant-general Jerry Mateparae said the New Zealand soldiers' response, including tactics, techniques and procedures, was "very professional".
Air V-m Stockwell said, unfortunately, low cloud in the area meant close air support could not be provided to the soldiers in the immediate aftermath of the attack. "Likewise, we couldn't get any helicopter medical evacuation in. We had to rely on road recovery."
It had yet to be established exactly how and when Lt O'Donnell died, but Air V-m Stockwell said faster medical evacuation was unlikely to have saved his life.
Teams from Kiwi Base and from an NZPRT forward patrol base, along with Afghanistan base National Security Defence and National Police, were despatched but took hours to arrive.
Meanwhile, the attackers dispersed within about 20 minutes of the attack.
Air V-m Stockwell said insurgents had become adept at timing the duration of their attacks in order to avoid any coalition response.
It was not known how many insurgents were involved, there was no indication of casualties sustained by them and it was not known whether they were Taliban or part of a "criminal element".
The steep terrain on either side of the road "certainly lends itself to this type of attack, and this is following the trend of the type of attack we've experienced over the years".
The attack demonstrated sophisticated planning and execution.
"They would have been watching the patrol and would have been well situated to take advantage of the route of travel."
Air V-m Stockwell said defence forces would now carry out a detailed site examination.
