1.3.5. Military Incidents Reports in the Media: Writing a Press Release

A press release is an official statement (written or recorded) that an organization, including the military, issues to the news media and beyond. Tips on how to write a press release are presented in the Press Release Triangle:

While the heading should contain action verbs, the first paragraph should answer the who, what, why, and where. You have to provide information about:

• The date
• The time
• The place
• The participants involved/injured and their condition
• How the incident happened (sequence of events)
• Description of the incident in details
• Reasons/causes of the incident

The press release should also contain understandable language and a quote.

Source of the image: How to Write a Press Release? [The Guide + Expert Comments] (prowly.com)

1.3.5.1. Class is divided into 3 groups.

1. Each group reads one of the press releases about incidents. Within a group, discuss which elements of a press release are not present.
2. A spokesperson for each group presents the incident to the other 2 groups.

1. Four explosions in Afghanistan kill at least 16 people on Wednesday 25 May

Four improvised explosive devices (IEDs) exploded in Afghanistan on Wednesday 25 May 2022, leaving 16 people dead and over 33 injured. Three of the attacks have been claimed by ISIS. This is the latest in a string of explosive violence incidents in Afghanistan since April, many of which have been claimed by ISIS.

Three IEDs went off on separate minibuses in Balk province’s Mazar-i-Sherif, killing 10 people, including three women, and injuring 15. Several hours later, ISIS stated that its soldiers had carried out the attacks.

On that same evening, another IED exploded in a mosque in Kabul, and authorities confirmed that six people had been killed and 18 injured.

It is so far unclear if any particular group was being targeted in the attacks.

Source: Four Explosions in Afghanistan Kill At Least 16 People On Wednesday 25 May – Afghanistan | ReliefWeb

 2. Blasts near Kabul schools kill at least 6 civilians, hurt 17

By Mohammad Shoaib Amin Associated Press

April 19, 2022, 7:16 PM

Kabul, Afghanstan. Explosions targeting educational institutions killed at least six people, including students, and wounded 17 Tuesday, in a mostly Shiite neighborhood of Afghanistan’s capital city, police said.

The blasts, which happened in rapid succession, were being investigated and more casualties were feared, according to Kabul police spokesman Khalid Zadran and the city’s Emergency Hospital. Several of the wounded were in serious condition and some had been treated and released.

The explosions occurred inside the Abdul Rahim Shaheed High School in the predominately Shiite Muslim neighborhood of Dasht-e-Barchi. There were no immediate reports of casualties at the education center.

Guards in the narrow street leading to the two-story high school said they saw 10 casualties.

Source: Blasts near Kabul schools kill at least 6 civilians, hurt 17 – ABC News (go.com)

 3. South Sudan: Condemnation for attempted ambush on food convoy

The interagency convoy of 59 trucks was carrying World Food Programme (WFP) food and nutrition assistance on Monday, 1 March 2022, when it was attacked by armed gunmen near Gadiang, located in Jonglei state, some 160 kilometres from the state capital, Bor (South Sudan).

WFP/Eulalia Berlanga World Food Programme trucks deliver aid in South Sudan.

UNMISS peacekeepers were protecting the convoy, which was travelling to various locations to preposition much needed assistance for some 95,000 people ahead of the rainy season, when access becomes heavily restricted.

The Mission and WFP issued a statement strongly condemning the attempted ambush. They said such incidents derail humanitarians from being able to deliver lifesaving assistance to people in need during the limited window of opportunity available to reach them.

Meshack Malo, UN interim Acting Humanitarian Coordinator for South Sudan, added that continued attacks on humanitarians, and attempted looting of vital relief, are a flagrant violation of international humanitarian law. “At a time of major funding constraints, the loss of aid due to theft, looting or destruction, means that every bag of food, nutrition or other humanitarian supplies looted, is stolen directly from the South Sudanese families most in need,” he said.

Source: South Sudan: Condemnation for attempted ambush on food convoy | | UN News

 1.3.5.2. Using the information, write a press release

Car bombs kill 4 Iraqis, injure 52 in Hilla
Date: 18 Feb 2004

Time: 0715 local time

Location: Iraqi city of Hilla, about 60 miles south of Baghdad, near the logistics base used by coalition soldiers in Hilla

People involved in the incident: 2 suicide car drivers, 42 Iraqis, 8 coalition soldiers: 6 Poles, 1 Hungarian and 1 American

Injured: 2 suicide drivers killed, 2 Iraqis standing in the street killed, 42 other Iraqi passers by injured, 8 coalition soldiers wounded; the injuries to the troops not life-threatening.

Description of incident: terrorist attack using two cars

Other details: bodies of the two drivers found

Reporting person: Lieutenant-Colonel Robert Strzelecki, a spokesman for Polish-led troops in the region.