*Washington, United States: *
Several US paratroopers were injured in a botched night parachute exercisein Mississippi Wednesday, local media reported.
The troops from the 4th Infantry Brigade of the 25th Infantry Division wereconducting an evening parachute jump above Camp Shelby when they were blownoff target into trees, camp commander Colonel Bobby Ginn told a local TVnetwork.
At least four soldiers were taken to nearby Hattiesburg’s hospital afterthey missed their landing target, CNN said, but as many as 13 paratrooperswere still stuck in trees, local media reported.
“We do not have final numbers of injured or the extent of injuries rightnow and there are no life-threatening injuries reported at this time,”Daniel Szarek, a spokesman for Camp Shelby, told the military newspaperTask&Purpose.
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There were 84 soldiers jumping in the exercise, but camp officials haveonly accounted for 75 so far, a spokesman for the base also told CNN.
“Once all soldiers have been accounted for, our goal is ultimately tocontinue training,” the 4th Brigade said in a Facebook post.
The exercise — part of “Operation Arctic Anvil” — was the start of aten-day course, involving 650 soldiers. -APP/AFP
