Norwegian soldier fires grenade at Afghan police building

A soldier with the Norwegian army in northwest Afghanistan accidentally fired a 40mm grenade while preparing a launcher on a military patrol vehicle.

The grenade hit a building in the Afghan police compound in Almar, Faryab province, killing one civilian and wounding another. The incident happened on Wednesday 25th May 2011.

Norwegian military police are investigating the incident.

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Finnish soldier injured by grenade

A Finnish peacekeeper in Afghanistan was injured on Tuesday 15th March in an accident involving a grenade launcher of his own forces. He was struck in the back by a grenade, which did not explode. 

The incident occurred at Camp Northern Lights in Mazar-i-Sharif.

The man's condition is not critical. However, he is due to be evacuated to Finland on Wednesday because of the recovery time his injuries require, according to the armed forces.

Commenting on the incident to YLE news, Colonel Eero Pyötsiä from the Pori brigade said that the man had not suffered serious injuries.

The accident took place just as the Finnish troops were heading off to a firing range. The details of what led to the accident remain unclear.

Luckily the grenade did not explode, and the peacekeeper was wearing a bulletproof vest. Following the accident, the man was taken to a German field hospital in Mazar-i-Sharif.

The weapon in question fires 40 calibre grenades, which can penetrate a five centimetre iron wall when they explode. The safety catch in the weapon prevented the explosion of the grenade.

YLE

Brit soldier killed in car crash

A SOLDIER recently returned from Afghanistan died with his girlfriend when their car rolled over and hit a tree.

Jamie Hall, 23, and Michelle Swinton, 22, who had a son of four from another relationship, were on a night out.

Driver Jamie was a gunner with 4 Regiment Royal Artillery, based at Thirsk, North Yorks, and returned from the war zone in November.

The crash happened near their homes in Blackhall Rocks, Co Durham. An Army spokesman said: "This is such a tragic accident when he has been through all of that."

Source: Mirror News