8 special operations forces injured in Ft. Bragg training

Eight U.S. special operations forces were injured Thursday during a training exercise at Ft. Bragg, according to an Army spokesman.

The soldiers were taken to the Womack Army Medical Center on base for treatment, said Lt. Col. Rob Bockholt, a spokesman for the Army’s Special Operations Command, which is based at Ft. Bragg.

Bockholt didn’t know the extent of the soldiers’ injuries.

Initial reports said the injuries happened in an explosion, but Bockholt said he could not confirm that.

“There was an incident that occurred on one of the ranges,” Bockholt said. “We’re looking into exactly what happened.”

About 57,000 military personnel are attached to Ft. Bragg, located next to Fayetteville, N.C. It is the largest Army installation by population and one of the largest in the world, covering about 161,000 acres.

The Special Operations Command has about 23,000 soldiers spread over several sites.

UPDATES:

12:05 p.m.: This article was updated with details on the eight special operations forced injured and a quote from Lt. Col. Rob Bockholt.

This article was originally published at 9:30 a.m.