Irish troops avoided a car bomb attack on their base in Mali last week because they were on patrol at the time.
The attack on a temporary base near Tarkint in the northern Gao region left 15 soldiers with injuries, including 14 Germans and one Belgian. Three of the German soldiers were seriously injured.
The attack occurred on the morning of June 25th, as the Irish contingent, which is made up of members of the Defence Forces’ special operations unit the Army Ranger Wing (ARW), was out on patrol, as reported in the Irish Sunday Mirror.
A vehicle laden with explosives was driven into the temporary base before it exploded.
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"The Irish contingent were not present when the vehicle-borne improvised explosive device was detonated," a Defence Forces spokesman said on Sunday.
The attack is suspected to be the work of the al-Qaeda terrorist group which is active in the west African nation.
About 14 members of the ARW are in Mali as part of a German-led task force focusing on “intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance (ISR)” work.
It is understood a company of several dozen soldiers were conducting reconnaissance of the area in advance of the deployment of regular troops of the Malian army. They had set up an overnight base when the attack occurred.
Al-Qaeda are known to be highly active in the area, a military source said.
"There were 15 casualties in total, 14 German and one Belgian. Thirteen of the wounded were subsequently evacuated to Germany where they continue to be treated for injuries suffered," the Defence Forces said.
The ISR taskforce works as part of the UN’s 13,000-strong Minusma mission which was established to help stabilise Mali following the Tuareg rebellion in 2012.
Minusma is the UN’s most dangerous ongoing peacekeeping mission. More than 190 UN peacekeepers have died in the country, including nearly 120 killed by hostile action.
In February last year, three members of the ARW suffered minor injuries while on patrol in Gao when their armoured vehicle struck a roadside explosive device.
It is understood the Mowag vehicle, which the Rangers were travelling in, hit a concealed device by the roadside.
