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| French shooting show injures 17 | French shooting show injures 17 |
| (about 17 hours later) | |
| A military show in southern France has left 17 people wounded, after real bullets were used instead of blanks. | |
| The injured included five children. Four people, including one child, were said to have been seriously hurt - though three have now stabilised. | The injured included five children. Four people, including one child, were said to have been seriously hurt - though three have now stabilised. |
| The incident occurred during a public demonstration of hostage-freeing techniques at a barracks in Aude. | The incident occurred during a public demonstration of hostage-freeing techniques at a barracks in Aude. |
| The soldier who fired the shots has been detained - though an official said it was probably an accident. | The soldier who fired the shots has been detained - though an official said it was probably an accident. |
| It is not clear why the wrong ammunition was used in Sunday's demonstration. | It is not clear why the wrong ammunition was used in Sunday's demonstration. |
| But it was "99.9%" likely to be "an unintentional fault," Colonel Benoit Royal, head of the French army's information service, told the AFP news agency on Monday. | But it was "99.9%" likely to be "an unintentional fault," Colonel Benoit Royal, head of the French army's information service, told the AFP news agency on Monday. |
| 'No psychological problems' | 'No psychological problems' |
| However, Defence Minister Herve Morin said: "I cannot rule out anything because we don't know what might be going on in a man's head." | However, Defence Minister Herve Morin said: "I cannot rule out anything because we don't know what might be going on in a man's head." |
| He said "an experienced soldier" should not be able to confuse blanks with real bullets. | He said "an experienced soldier" should not be able to confuse blanks with real bullets. |
| "According to initial findings of the inquiry, the incident involved a soldier with a perfect record, who had participated in operations and had seven to eight years of experience," he said. | "According to initial findings of the inquiry, the incident involved a soldier with a perfect record, who had participated in operations and had seven to eight years of experience," he said. |
| "There is nothing that would make one think he had behavioural or psychological problems," he added. | "There is nothing that would make one think he had behavioural or psychological problems," he added. |
| Reports from the scene say the hostage scenario had been acted out five times before a crowd at the Laperrine military barracks, near Carcassonne, when on the sixth take real bullets began flying through the air, and onlookers fell to the ground. | Reports from the scene say the hostage scenario had been acted out five times before a crowd at the Laperrine military barracks, near Carcassonne, when on the sixth take real bullets began flying through the air, and onlookers fell to the ground. |
| Fifteen civilians were among the 17 injured. | Fifteen civilians were among the 17 injured. |
| Gilles Hulard, a doctor from Carcassonne's rescue service said: "The condition of patients injured the most seriously have stabilised, including that of a three-year-old child very seriously injured, who seems to be improving." | Gilles Hulard, a doctor from Carcassonne's rescue service said: "The condition of patients injured the most seriously have stabilised, including that of a three-year-old child very seriously injured, who seems to be improving." |
| He said the worst injuries were sustained by a man shot in the chest, who was still in critical condition." | He said the worst injuries were sustained by a man shot in the chest, who was still in critical condition." |
| In a statement, French President Nicolas Sarkozy expressed his horror at the incident and said he was urgently waiting for the results of an official investigation. | In a statement, French President Nicolas Sarkozy expressed his horror at the incident and said he was urgently waiting for the results of an official investigation. |
| The president was planning to visit the injured in hospitals in Carcassonne and Toulouse later, his office said. | The president was planning to visit the injured in hospitals in Carcassonne and Toulouse later, his office said. |