Grenade activated before throw in fatal army training blast, probe finds
A Malaysian defence minister confirmed that a fatal grenade explosion during a military training exercise was caused by the premature release of a safety lever. Investigators concluded the device detonated near the soldiers before it could be thrown, though the exact cause of the lever release remains unknown.
Why it matters
This incident highlights critical safety failures in military training protocols and underscores the risks associated with handling live explosives.
Defence minister Khaled Nordin stressed that the highest standards of compliance, supervision and safety must always be maintained during military training. (Bernama pic)
PETALING JAYA: A grenade that killed two soldiers during a training exercise in Kedah last month was activated before it could be thrown because its safety lever was believed to have been released prematurely, defence minister Khaled Nordin said.
Khaled said the grenade was fitted with three safety mechanisms - a safety clip, a safety pin, and a safety lever - and would detonate about five seconds after the safety lever was released.
In a statement, he said the grenade-throwing exercise was conducted in stages under the instructor’s supervision, requiring the thrower to maintain a firm grip on the grenade’s safety lever until it was thrown towards the target.
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