According to a Hellenic Army General Staff (HAGS) announcement, a horrible accident occurred today resulting in the death of three Greek infantry soldiers.

More specifically, two professional privates and a conscript soldier were killed by a mortar shell blast at 13:30 on Tuesday on the ‘Glafyra’ firing range in Magnesia. It should be noted that the accident occurred during planned firing of heavy infantry guns using 81-mm mortar rounds.

An officer was also injured in the blast and was rushed to Volos Hospital. According to sources, he will undergo surgery but his life is not in danger.

Deputy Defence Minister Ioannis Lambropoulos and the head of HAGS Lieutenant General Christos Manolas immediately rushed to the scene of the accident to inquire into the causes of the accident.

Defence Minister Dimitris Avramopoulos has declared three days of mourning in the Armed Forces and he also asked the HAGS chief to complete the investigation into the exact causes of the blast as soon as possible.