MOSCOW, October 23 (RIA Novosti) – Police have opened a criminal case over suspected negligent mishandling of weapons after six paratroopers died in an explosion on Tuesday at a military training range in Russia’s western Pskov region.
Eleven cadets had been assigned to set up targets along the 1,400 meter line on the Strugy Krasniye site’s firing range on Tuesday evening in preparation for tank shooting practice, local investigators said.
When they were on their way back at around 7 p.m., a shell exploded about 50 meters from one of the targets.
The explosion killed five cadets and an officer, and wounded two more soldiers who are currently hospitalized.
Police have not yet identified any suspects in the case.
