Female Soldier Gang Assaulted by Group of Newly Arrived Afghan Refugees

According to ABC News affiliate KVIA, the FBI is investigating the assault of a female Fort Bliss soldier by several male Afghan refugees at the Army’s Doña Ana Complex camp where thousands are currently being housed.

“We can confirm a female service member supporting Operation Allies Welcome reported being assaulted on Sept. 19 by a small group of male evacuees at the Doña Ana Complex in New Mexico,” Fort Bliss Public Affairs said in an emailed statement.

“We take the allegation seriously and appropriately referred the matter to the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The safety and well-being of our service members, as well as all of those on our installations, is paramount.”

Charges have yet to be filed in the incident, and authorities have not yet released information on if the allegations described were involving an incident that is sexual in nature.

Lt. Col. Allie Payne, the director of Public Affairs for Fort Bliss said that the assaulted soldier has received medical care and counseling. In the wake of the attack, Payne said additional security measures – including improved lightning – were being implemented at the Doña Ana Complex

The news comes after reports about two other newly arrived Afghan evacuees who were charged with federal crimes, including the sexual assault of children while being house at Fort McCoy in Wisconsin.

Bahrullah Noori has been charged with one count of attempting to engage in a sexual act with a minor, and three counts of engaging in a sexual act with a minor. The indictment alleges that the victims were younger than 16.

Another refugee, Mohammad Haroon Imaad, was charged with assaulting his spouse by strangling and suffocating her. The indictment indicates that the assault occurred on September 7, 2021.

According to another report, U.S. officials are looking into allegations that in the evacuation of Afghan refugees, older men were admitted together with young girls they claimed as their “brides.”