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Inquiry into fatal Castlemartin tank incident continues | Inquiry into fatal Castlemartin tank incident continues |
(about 3 hours later) | |
An inquiry into the deaths of two soldiers and the serious injury of two others at a Ministry of Defence base in Pembrokeshire is continuing. | An inquiry into the deaths of two soldiers and the serious injury of two others at a Ministry of Defence base in Pembrokeshire is continuing. |
The Royal Tank Regiment soldiers died after the incident at Castlemartin Range on Wednesday. | The Royal Tank Regiment soldiers died after the incident at Castlemartin Range on Wednesday. |
The MoD, Dyfed-Powys Police and Health and Safety Executive are investigating. | The MoD, Dyfed-Powys Police and Health and Safety Executive are investigating. |
The incident is understood to have involved ammunition. The MoD has suspended tank live firing exercises by British military as a precaution. | The incident is understood to have involved ammunition. The MoD has suspended tank live firing exercises by British military as a precaution. |
The second death was announced on Thursday night by Minister for Defence, People and Veterans, Tobias Ellwood. | The second death was announced on Thursday night by Minister for Defence, People and Veterans, Tobias Ellwood. |
It followed an earlier announcement of the first soldier's death on Thursday morning. | It followed an earlier announcement of the first soldier's death on Thursday morning. |
A wreath has been laid at the Tank Memorial Ypres Salient in Belgium - which honours tank soldiers killed in the world wars - in tribute to those who died at Castlemartin. | |
Flags at the camp have been lowered to half mast. | Flags at the camp have been lowered to half mast. |
The MoD suspended tank live firing exercises as a precaution following the incident until the outcome of the investigation is known. | The MoD suspended tank live firing exercises as a precaution following the incident until the outcome of the investigation is known. |
This applies to all British military, wherever they are in the world. | This applies to all British military, wherever they are in the world. |
No personal details of those involved have been given. | No personal details of those involved have been given. |
Lt Col John Skipper, defence analyst and former military intelligence officer, told the BBC's Good Morning Wales programme the safety record at Castlemartin was "excellent". | Lt Col John Skipper, defence analyst and former military intelligence officer, told the BBC's Good Morning Wales programme the safety record at Castlemartin was "excellent". |
He said: "There are very, very few incidents given the very high level of training there, millions of rounds are fired there in the 44 weeks they're open every year." | He said: "There are very, very few incidents given the very high level of training there, millions of rounds are fired there in the 44 weeks they're open every year." |
He said Challenger 2 tanks were used at the range, one of two armoured fighting vehicle training areas in the UK where direct live firing exercises and vehicles manoeuvres take place. | He said Challenger 2 tanks were used at the range, one of two armoured fighting vehicle training areas in the UK where direct live firing exercises and vehicles manoeuvres take place. |
The 1st and 2nd Royal Tank Regiments merged in August 2014 to form The Royal Tank Regiment, which is based in Tidworth, Wiltshire. | The 1st and 2nd Royal Tank Regiments merged in August 2014 to form The Royal Tank Regiment, which is based in Tidworth, Wiltshire. |
The Army's website said the regiment was "preparing for a live fire exercise at Castlemartin in Wales", which was scheduled to take place at the range between Monday and Friday. | The Army's website said the regiment was "preparing for a live fire exercise at Castlemartin in Wales", which was scheduled to take place at the range between Monday and Friday. |
In May 2012, Ranger Michael Maguire died during a live firing exercise at the training base. An inquest later found he was unlawfully killed. | In May 2012, Ranger Michael Maguire died during a live firing exercise at the training base. An inquest later found he was unlawfully killed. |