Soldiers' emailed photo drops a bomb

New Zealand soldiers in Afghanistan pose with a bomb inscribed, 'Dear Taleban, enjoy this', and adorned with a Demon energy drink sticker. Photo / Supplied

New Zealand soldiers in Afghanistan have been caught on camera posing beside what appears to be a 2000-pound bomb, writing the message, "Dear Taleban, enjoy this" on it.

The Army yesterday began an investigation to see if the soldiers should be sent home for the "totally inappropriate" behaviour as part of an energy drink promotion.

The bomb has been plastered with Demon energy drink stickers showing the firm's "no limit no laws" logo.

Another photograph shows a soldier wielding two machineguns beside stickers and a bottle of drink.

The Army yesterday refused to say what kind of bomb it was, but the Weekend Herald understands the soldiers have claimed it was a "2000-pound bomb" due to be dropped on a Taleban training camp last month.

The bombs can be fired from fighter jets like the F-16 and are regularly used in air strikes in Afghanistan which are controversial because of the hundreds of civilian casualties they have caused.

The photographs were circulated by email yesterday, after being sentto Demon Drinks, then on to Radio Live.

Defence Force spokesman Commander Shaun Fogarty said the photographs were "completely inappropriate" and an investigation was under way to determine the soldiers' fate.

Demon Drinks refused to answer questions about whether it released the photos, or what thought was given to the possible victims of the bomb.

A statement from promotions and sponsorship co-ordinator Will Seal said Demon Drinks regularly ran competitions for consumers to send in "humorous and entertaining photos".