THE defence minister yesterday said human error was to blame for an army mortar shell that went astray during a live fire exercise and exploded near a holiday home in the Larnaca district last week.
No one was injured in Wednesday’s explosion as the owners of the prefab house – perforated by shrapnel – in the village of Ayia Anna were not there at the time.
“My opinion, as I have already said, is that it will be human error and not faulty munitions, but I do not want to confirm it at this point out of respect of the (ongoing) investigation,” Costas Papacostas said.
He described the incident as “inexcusable and criminal”, but did not clarify further.
The National Guard command had immediately suspended the officer overseeing the exercise as an investigation was launched into the circumstances of the accident.
Papacostas rejected suggestions that the officer was being victimised.
The captain cannot be on duty during an investigation into who is responsible, Papacostas said.
Speaking after a meeting with the area’s residents, Papacostas said their concerns were justified, noting his conviction that the measures in place were sufficient, as long as those responsible for the exercise take them into serious consideration.
“When an order is given to fire, there must be confirmation to always ensure it is safe,” the minister said.
Papacostas said he believed if this procedure is followed accidents of this kind will not happen again.
“The specific one at least, was completely inexcusable and criminal,” the minister said.
Residents of the area neighbouring the Kalo Horio firing range have in the past repeatedly voiced their concerns over the recurring accidents regarding munitions straying into residential areas.
Following protests in July 2010, the National Guard has stopped using the range for heavy artillery exercises.
“Our demands today regard the safety of the area’s residents,” said Frixos Michael, the head of the local authority of Psevdas.
Michael said the minister has assured them “as he had done in the past” that he will deal with the matter and “that measures will be taken not to repeat a human error”.
The communities assured the minister that they did not demand the closure of the range “but we expressed our concerns about the latest incident because lives were put in danger,” Michael said.
The communities suggested that the National Guard should film the exercises to record procedures, actions and potential mistakes.
Papacostas said the feasibility of implementing the recommendation will be examined.
