Monday
Apr262010
UN Inquiry Fails To Explain Death of American in Afghanistan
Monday, April 26, 2010 at 8:40PM
The circumstances surrounding the death of Louis Maxwell, a former US marine who worked as a UN security guard in Afghanistan, remain vague, even though there is "a strong sense" he might have been killed by Afghan forces, says Susana Malcorra, UN Under-Secretary-General for Field Support.
In October 2009, Taliban insurgents disguised as Afghan police officers raided a UN guest house, killing five staff members and blowing themselves up. During the attack, Maxwell was able to take position on the roof and open fire on the attackers, allowing dozens of UN staff to escape out the back door.
At the time, reports suggested Maxwell had been killed by insurgents responsible for the attack, but recently released amateur video footage shows Maxwell standing next to Afghan security forces after the attack, before collapsing to the ground from what seems to be a gun shot.
Although Malcorra was able to confirm that the authenticity of the video, she says that forensic reports suggest the shot that killed Maxwell was taken from a distance, not at close range as some have suggested after seeing the video.
Malcorra says the inquiry determined that three of the staff members were killed by friendly fire while trying to escape, and a fourth died from the explosion and resulting flames. Yet Maxwell's death remains unexplained, as, unlike the four other dead UN staff members, he was found outside the house.
"It is not clear how Mr. Maxwell was killed in the middle of that very complicated situation" said Malcorra, "Exchange of fire was performed from both sides , neither one of the sides knew exactly who was atttacking the other one. It was a very confusing situation."
Malcorra also reaffirmed the board of inquiry's independence, adding that Afghan officials had fully cooperated with the investigation and that the FBI was working on its own investigation.
In October 2009, Taliban insurgents disguised as Afghan police officers raided a UN guest house, killing five staff members and blowing themselves up. During the attack, Maxwell was able to take position on the roof and open fire on the attackers, allowing dozens of UN staff to escape out the back door.
At the time, reports suggested Maxwell had been killed by insurgents responsible for the attack, but recently released amateur video footage shows Maxwell standing next to Afghan security forces after the attack, before collapsing to the ground from what seems to be a gun shot.
Although Malcorra was able to confirm that the authenticity of the video, she says that forensic reports suggest the shot that killed Maxwell was taken from a distance, not at close range as some have suggested after seeing the video.
Malcorra says the inquiry determined that three of the staff members were killed by friendly fire while trying to escape, and a fourth died from the explosion and resulting flames. Yet Maxwell's death remains unexplained, as, unlike the four other dead UN staff members, he was found outside the house.
"It is not clear how Mr. Maxwell was killed in the middle of that very complicated situation" said Malcorra, "Exchange of fire was performed from both sides , neither one of the sides knew exactly who was atttacking the other one. It was a very confusing situation."
Malcorra also reaffirmed the board of inquiry's independence, adding that Afghan officials had fully cooperated with the investigation and that the FBI was working on its own investigation.
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