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JBER soldier dies after bear attack during training in Anchorage

soldier boots
Soldiers stand at attention during the deployment ceremony for the 164th Military Police Company, 793rd Military Police Battalion, 2d Engineer Brigade, U.S. Army Alaska, at the Alaska National Guard Armory, Thursday, Jan. 23, 2014, on Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska. The Soldiers are deploying for about five months to the island of Guam to provide site security for a facility there. As part of the deployment ceremony the company was awarded the prestigious Command Sgt. Maj. Farley Award for being the best military police company in U.S. Army Pacific. The award was presented by retired Army Command Sgt. Maj. Mark L. Farley himself, who was the first enlisted military police Soldier to lead as the senior enlisted adviser at the 2, 3 and 4-star level commands, eventually retiring as the command sergeant major of U.S. Army Europe. (U.S. Air Force photo by Justin Connaher/Released)

A Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson soldier died from injuries sustained in a bear attack Tuesday while training in the Anchorage area, according to a statement from the base.

The U.S. Army Alaska soldier was part of a small group training in the area west of the Anchorage Regional Landfill, said the statement.

The 673d Security Forces Squadron initially responded to the bear attack.

By Tuesday evening, wildlife troopers continued to search for the bear in the training area. The area is closed to the public. 

JBER said the soldier’s name is being withheld until family is notified. 

No other information was immediately available. JBER officials said they will release more information about the attack as it becomes available. 

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.