A firearm explosion during a training session at Kem Hobart leaves two soldiers injured, with police confirming a technical fault as the cause.
SUNGAI PETANI: Two soldiers were injured after a firearm used during a training session exploded in an incident at Kem Hobart in Gurun yesterday evening.
Kedah police chief Datuk Adzli Abu Shah said the incident, which occurred at 6.05 pm, injured a sergeant-ranked trainer and a corporal trainee.
The 35-year-old male trainer received eight stitches to his right thigh, while the 29-year-old male trainee, who sustained an injury to his left thigh, is still receiving treatment at Hospital Sultan Abdul Halim (HSAH).
“Preliminary investigations found that the incident was caused by a technical issue, not negligence or gunfire. It is believed to have been caused by fragments of an object or foreign material that were propelled following the explosion,” he told reporters after visiting the Jeniang police post near here today.
Adzli further explained that during the training session, the weapon experienced a stoppage.
“According to standard operating procedures (SOP), safety measures were taken by unloading the weapon and securing it. However, during inspection, a part of the weapon suddenly exploded.
“Doctors have also confirmed that the injuries sustained were not caused by bullets,” he said.
He said about 300 soldiers from Perlis are undergoing a multi-phase training involving various types of weapons, which began on June 28 and will continue until Thursday.
“There are several training phases, and during yesterday evening’s incident, they were training with heavy weapons,” he said.
The case is being investigated under Section 37 of the Arms Act 1960. The Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) forensic team and the Malaysian Armed Forces (ATM) weapons experts are still examining the scene.
In a related development, Adzli said investigations into a bomb explosion during a training session at the same camp on June 16, which claimed the lives of two personnel, have been completed.
“The earlier bomb explosion case has been concluded at the police level. The case has been classified as sudden death. However, detailed technical investigations regarding the technical aspects have been handed over to the army,” he said.
Meanwhile, he also informed that the Jeniang police station will be temporarily closed from July 2 to Aug 20 for upgrading works.
“All operations will be temporarily relocated to the Jeniang police post, and the public may conduct their business there until the upgrading works are completed,” he added.
