The FBI has opened an investigation into the assault of a female solider by several male Afghan refugees at the US Army’s Fort Bliss base, in New Mexico.
The alleged assault took place on Sunday, at around midnight, when at least three men allegedly attacked the soldier near her car after she arrived for work at the Dona Ana Complex, which had been accepting refugees airlifted out of Afghanistan are housed, ABC 7 reports.
‘We can confirm a female service member supporting Operation Allies Welcome reported being assaulted on September 19 by a small group of male evacuees ,’ said Lt. Col. Allie Payne, director of Public Affairs for Fort Bliss and the 1st Armored Division.
‘We take the allegation seriously and appropriately referred the matter to the Federal Bureau of Investigation.’
The female soldier has not been identified.
The solider has received medical care and counseling following the assault. She was reported to have recovered from her physical injuries.
Payne added that more security measures, including improved lighting and enforcing ‘buddy system,’ were being added at the camp.
There are nearly 10,000 refugees being housed at the base, USA Today reported.
Special Agent Jeanette Harper, of the FBI’s El Paso division, confirmed that the agency was investigating the matter.
US Rep. Yvette Herrell, who represents the area, called the news a vetting failure, Fox reports.
‘My prayers are with the courageous soldier and her family. This is yet another tragic failure in the vetting process for Afghan nationals,’ Herrell tweeted. ‘The American people deserve answers.’
The assault comes days after two Afghan refugees at the US Airforce base camp in Wisconsin were arrested.
On Wednesday, the Department of Justice announced that Bahrullah Noori, 20, was being charged with attempting to engage in a sexual act with a minor, using force against that person, along with three other counts of engaging in sex with a minor.
Meanwhile, Mohammed Haroon Imaad, 32, is facing domestic assault charges after allegedly choking and suffocating his wife on September 17.
Both acts reportedly happened while the two were staying at Fort McCoy in Wisconsin – where they were taken to following their evacuation from Afghanistan.
They were both taken off of the base and are now being held at Dane County Jail.
They were scheduled to be arraigned at a federal court in Madison on Thursday.
If convicted, Noori faces a minimum of 30 years in prison and a maximum sentence of life in prison for the use of force charge alone, with a maximum of 15 years on the other charges.
Imaad’s alleged victim told investigators he choked her, and ‘threatened to send her back to Afghanistan where the Taliban could deal with her,’ according to a criminal complaint obtained by WISN.
Imaad faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison
“Payne added that more security measures, including improved lighting and enforcing ‘buddy system,’ were being added at the camp.”
ROLMFAO!!!! Bahahahahaha!!!
Using the “buddy system” at a military base. Yea….that doesn’t really boost my confidence in the kind of soldiers we are supposed to have protecting us.
What happened to the old saying, “An army of one”? So now we need “An army of two”?
Kinda degrading if our own soldiers need help protecting themselves. I hope she’s ok but you get what you ask for when you bring the enemy into your camp.
women in the military, another psyop on men
she should have shot the attackers
Agreed.