Memo discusses an attempted escape and a riot that resulted in the shooting death of one detainee and injuries to seven others.
DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY 400th MILITARY POLICE BATTALION BIAP, IRAQ, APO AE 09302- 1322
AFRC-CPA-AO-D-PR 19 October
MEMORANDUM FOR Commander, 400 th Military Police Battalion
SUBJECT: Escape and shooting at Abu Gharaib
1. This 15-6 investigation includes two parts. An escape that took place around 1400 and a riot that resulted in a shooting and death of qne detainee and injuries to seven other detainees around 1600.
IS)0 4t
2. The Escape: The detainee sed a piece of cardboard from a water bottle box to push the triple strain concertina wire up an e under. The detainee did this while the tower guard was turned the other way. The QRF was activated and quickly apprehended the detainee while other guards pursued... Reference enclosure 21.
a.
This location was previously used by detainees to escape seven days earlier. This is an ideal spot to
use because of the concealment along the wall. This spot was reinforced after the first escape
attempt. A step to prevent an attempted escape attempt like this would be a cellblock enclosure.
The cellblock is currently being renovated. Prisoners use cardboard boxes to sleep on. This is
good for preventive medicine.
b.
The SOP does not specifically cover an escape attempt. This is a general guard order to prevent
detainees from escaping
3. The Riot: Around 1600, 30-40 detainees started to throw rocks from their compounds at the three interior guards. The interior guards tried to get behind a generator to avoid the rock throws. They then proceeded to the exit. Enroute to the exit the interior guards were hit with baseball size rocks. A prisoner was about to throw a tent pole like a javelin at the interior guards only 10-15 feet away, when all three guard towers fired at the main threat 8 times and one tower shot 3 times into the crowd. This effectively dispersed the crowd and eliminated the threat. Reference enclosure 20 and 22 for the prison overlay and tower shooting layout.
a.
Upon reading the sworn statements (enclosure 7-19), I determined that the shooting was justified.
All three towers determined that the lives of the interior guards were threatened. This fact under
the current rules of engagement gives authorization for the soldier to respond with a lethal force.
Prior to lethal response the towers even tried to verbally control the crowd ineffectively. The rules
of engagement are reinforced in the company SOP and stationed at the guard towers. They were
followed.
b.
The company having placed a variety of weapons (M16 or shotgun) gives the guards the choice to
avoid unnecessary ricochet or firepower thru a target. This choice let the guard in tower #6 control
the crowd effectively with fewer deaths but more injuries.
c.
The QRF responded immediately after the shots. They helped secure the injured detainees for
treatment and secure the compounds.
023315
DOD-048886
AFRC-CPA-AO-D-PR 19 October 2004 SUBJECT: Escape and shooting at Abu Gharaib, Cont
4. Recommendations.
a.
Extra concertina wire passed the far tower
b.
Post a daytime roving patrol
c.
Less lethal weapon capability with proper training
d.
Proper life support for prisoners (hygiene support and supplies, variety of food, linguist support, MI support)
e.
Slug shotgun rounds
f.
Remove all rocks in compound areas
g.
Refresh on rules of engagement
h.
Post compound rules in Arabic and English
i.
Contracted translators
5. The POC is the undersigned at @us.army.mil .
ENCL
1 — Appointment orders CPT, MP
2 jaVigilant SOP Adjutant
"
(i)a) t-f• 3Custody Document 4 -47111
1" Commander SITREP
5 — Prison Count 141045DJUN2003
6 — Prison Count 142115DJUN2003
7 — DA 2823, SPC tower shooter
8 — DA 2823, CPT - Commander
9 — DA 2823, SGT tower shooter
10 — DA 2823,_ SPC — tower shooter
11 — DA 28211SG — First SGT
12 — DA 2823 eSSG - RTO
13 — DA 28231 SGT Interior Guard )
14 — DA 2823, SGT — Interior Guard
15 — DA 2823, SPC Interior Guard
16 — DA 2823, SGT — external tower guard
17 — DA 2823, SGT — prison transport escort
DOD-048887
18 — DA 2823, SSG — Yard tower guard
19 — DA 2823, SFC Yard tower guard 19 October
AFRC-CPA-AO-D-PR
SUBJECT: Escape and shooting at Abu Gharaib, Cont
20 — Yard Overlay map
21 — Escape Overlay map
22 — Shooting Overlay map
23 — Battalion Serious Incident Report
24 — Investigation Log
25 — Evidence photo CD
26 — Shotgun shells tower #6
27 — Shotgun shells tower #5
28 — M-16 shells Yard tower
023317
DOD-048888