The National Guard has launched an investigation after approximately 13.6 kilograms (30 pounds) of TNT explosive material went missing during an Engineering Corps exercise at Kalo Chorio firing range yesterday.
According to sources, the most likely scenario concerns theft of the explosives from the site.
The National Guard Chief travelled to the site and is closely monitoring the investigations and inquiry procedures. Police have been informed about the incident.
Defence Ministry spokesman Christos Pieris said the incident occurred yesterday during training at Kalo Chorio firing range. “It appears that after a controlled explosion did not occur and after all safety protocols were followed, the trainees approached the area where the explosives were placed and did not find the two devices there, which are two 15-pound devices (13.6kg) and no more, without meaning we are downplaying the incident,” Pieris said.
He said the army, the Defence Minister and the local police station were immediately notified. “The area was secured and investigations started yesterday.”
“They are trying to examine the area to see if there are remnants or blast sites indicating an explosion occurred,” he said.
Asked how the 13.6kg were discovered missing, Pieris said the trainees fired, the device did not work, they sent a drone to verify nothing was there regarding the explosion, waited the one-hour safety protocol period, and later visited the blast site and did not find the explosives there. “That’s when the concern arose,” he said.
The exercise scheduled for today has been postponed until the case is fully clarified, whilst checks and evidence collection by military authorities continue.
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