5 children hurt as old shell explodes in Austria
Dangerous finds are still making themselves known (Photo: RBC-Ukraine)
On Saturday evening in the Austrian village of St. Oswald bei Freistadt, a World War II shell that was lying under a children's campfire exploded. Five children between the ages of 10 and 14 were injured and taken to the hospital, according to Reuters.
What happened
The children had come from another district of Upper Austria for an organised youth outing — the area is a popular camping spot for youth groups. As the campfire burned, a device described by police as a relic of war exploded beneath it.
After the explosion, law enforcement officers searched a nearby campfire pit and found another explosive device. A bomb disposal team is working at the scene. Police are investigating how the munitions ended up beneath the fire pit.
The five injured children were taken to a children's hospital in the city of Linz. The severity of their injuries is being clarified.
Context
World War II-era munitions are still occasionally found in Austria — usually during construction work. However, accidental detonations are extremely rare.
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