16 May 2013

Defence to carry out review after abduction

3:07 pm on 16 May 2013

The Defence Force says it will carry out a routine review after the abduction of a New Zealand peacekeeper from near the Syrian border.

An Army officer working as a military observer for the United Nations was taken from an observation post on the Golan Heights on Wednesday.

The officer, who was not armed, was held for just over five hours before being released unhurt.

Major Aidan Shattock said on Thursday it is routine to review how the mission is being run after any incident such as the abduction.

The Defence Force said it has no information about who was responsible for the abduction.

Eight Defence personnel are serving overseas as part of the UN Truce Supervision Organisation in the Middle East.