Grenade Blows in Inventory Check, Kills 25 Turkish Soldiers

A routine stock check at a Turkish ammunition depot turned deadly last night, after an accidentally dropped hand grenade triggered an explosion and blaze that killed 25 soldiers. Four other soldiers were injured in the blast, which lit up the night sky with flames and shattered windows in the homes of a nearby town, terrifying residents.

A government minister ruled out terrorism and sabotage, saying the blast occurred in a section where hand grenades were kept. The soldiers' remains were discovered early today after a subsequent blaze was extinguished. "One hand grenade was dropped during stock-taking and sorting, causing a large explosion," said the official, adding that hand grenades were found strewn across the area and authorities were detonating them with controlled explosions. Some remains have already been sent to the capital for DNA tests so they could be identified. (More grenade stories.)