Friendly Fire Incident at Sangin - Aftermath

Aftermath

Three separate investigations were launched within a day of the battle, by the American CJTF-76 who ordered an AR-15 investigation, the American Criminal Investigation Detachment and the Canadian National Investigation Service. Canada also launched a board of inquiry, which determined all four Canadians had indeed been shot as a result of friendly fire from an American HMMWV.

The two gun barrels from the vehicle were seized by American military investigators as part of a criminal investigation.

Following an external examination by Lieutenant Commander Clifford at Kandahar Airfield, Costall's remains were sent back to Canada, where the Chief Coroner of Ontario performed an autopsy on April 2, 2006. The bullets extracted from his body were turned over to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police forensics laboratory in Halifax, and found to be consistent with 7.62 mm rounds.

Following the battle, the 1st PPCLI launched "a response" by moving in to take control of Taliban-controlled poppy fields through Operation Ketara.