33 Americans Hurt at W. German Base in Accidental Blast
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WEST BERLIN — Thirty-three Americans were injured when a document-destroying machine blew up during a training exercise at a radar installation in West Berlin today, a U.S. military spokesman said.
The accident occurred when U.S. Air Force explosives experts were giving an open-air demonstration at Marienfeld radar station on how to eliminate secret written material with an M-4 document destroyer. spokesman Tom Homan said.
He said 24 of those hurt were released from a hospital after emergency treatment but nine others were being detained for further care. None suffered injuries considered life threatening, he added.
Homan said the explosion was an accident. “We want to emphasize that we have ruled out any terrorist involvement or sabotage,” he said.
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