ICBL condemns attack on MAG staff in Iraq

(Tuesday 09 September 2003 ) On 5 September 2003, two personnel from the Mines Advisory Group,  Ian Rimel and Ahmed Mohammed were the target of an ambush on their way home after their working day clearing mines and unexploded ordnance in the region of Mosul(Iraq).

Ian Rimel was shot dead and his colleague is in critical condition. The ICBL is outraged by such an attack on humanitarian workers who came to Iraq to help Iraqi people to clear their land and live in a safer environment. The Campaign extends its deepest sympathy and condolences to Ian Rimel's family and to all of the staff at Mines Advisory Group, and its best wishes for the recovery of Ahmed Mohammed.

MAG PRESS STATEMENT

Date: Friday 5 September 2003

AT approximately 12:00 GMT yesterday (16:00 local time) two employees from the UK-based charity Mines Advisory Group (MAG) were ambushed and shot at as they drove their vehicle along a main road towards Mosul, northern Iraq.

MAG's bomb disposal expert, Ian Rimell, 53, from Kidderminster, UK, was shot dead and his colleague, Salem Ahmed Mohammed, a local employee from the MAG demining team, is currently in a critical condition in northern Iraq.

Mr Rimell and Mr Ahmed Mohammed were on their way home from work, in a vehicle with the distinctive MAG emblem, when they were attacked. MAG does not know who was responsible for the attack.

MAG's Executive Director, Lou McGrath said: "MAG's staff are devastated by the loss of their good friend and colleague. He was a dedicated humanitarian who worked so well with the local people. Our thoughts are with the families and our prayers are with Salem as he remains in a serious condition.  We are further reviewing our areas of operation in Iraq following this attack."MAG has been in Iraq without interruption for more than a decade with 700 mainly local staff in northern Iraq. It is one of the few international aid agencies that has stayed in Iraq providing humanitarian mine clearance and mine risk education throughout the recent war.Mr Rimell, who was awarded a British Empire Medal, was married with three grown up children. He joined MAG in January this year after an already long career in mine and bomb disposal. His family have asked that we express how much Mr Rimell valued his humanitarian work with MAG. He was particularly dedicated to passing on his vast experience to the local staff. Earlier in the day Mr Rimell had cleared a scrap heap filled with ammunition and hidden explosives. He later delivered the valuable scrap metal for the rebuilding of a local school.Further information and comments cannot be made as more details are gathered.MAG is a non-political, humanitarian charity with headquarters in the UK and has been clearing landmines and unexploded ordnance (UXO) from Iraq since 1992. MAG provides mine and UXO clearance in many conflict zones. Currently MAG runs mine action programmes in eight countries and has worked in more than 20 countries worldwide.