Bombs away from Baghdad theme park

From Lt Kate Noble in Baghdad

Despite high-intensity combat operations having ceased some time ago, explosions are still a regular occurrence in downtown Baghdad.

When a particularly loud one is heard the first thing most military personnel do is check their watches.
If the explosion is on the hour, they can almost guarantee it’s the work of the Australian Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) team and their US counterparts, who conduct UXO detonations almost daily.

The EOD team recently conducted a detailed clearance of the Amusement Park in central Baghdad, which is in the precinct of the Baghdad Zoo.

The munitions they found included 120mm mortars, 120mm illumination rounds and 105mm high-explosive projectiles.
And although the intensive clean-up operation has finished, the team continues to return to the area to dispose of UXOs that are reported to Coalition authorities by locals.

Sgt Adam Kiiver, one of the three members of the team, said they conducting detonations at the range every day.

“Of course it depends on how much we’re finding,” he said.

“The problem with clearing an area of UXOs is that you can’t dig for them, for obvious reasons.

“A decent wind can uncover more UXOs and these are sometimes reported by locals, or we find them if we’re passing through the area.”

The disposal process varies depending on the situation. If practicable, the team will clear the area of vehicles and people and detonate the ordnance in place.

Alternatively, the munitions will be made safe and transported to the demolition range, where the UXO will be detonated safely.

Since commencing its operations in Iraq, the team has disposed of approximately 5000 munitions.

While there is still a lot of work to do, the EOD team and their US counterparts are making a significant contribution to Coalition efforts in Iraq by consistently decreasing the UXO threat in Baghdad.

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