17 people were injured at a military show in southwest France after a soldier accidently fired live ammunition into the crowd of spectators who were standing just 10 metres away.

The soldiers who were holding a mock hostage demonstration at the Laperrine military barracks in Carcassonne were supposed to be using blanks when the accident happened. The 17 injured included 15 members of the public, five of which were children, they were taken to nearby hospital with the most serious casualties being taken to Toulouse. Four of the wounded are said to be in a serious condition.

The defence minister Herve Morin travelled to Carcassonne to visit the wounded and has ordered an immediate inquiry to determine what went wrong in this tragic incident.

The soldier responsible for firing the live rounds has been arrested pending investigations but at this stage it looks likely that the incident was an error rather than a criminal act.

French President Nicolas Sarkozy expressed his horror and concern and is waiting for the results of the official inquiry.

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