Five children were rushed to hospital in Austria after a Second World War-era bomb exploded beneath their campfire on Saturday evening, police confirmed on Sunday.
Details of the Incident
The youngsters, aged between 10 and 14, were part of a youth group visiting from elsewhere in Upper Austria. The explosion occurred in St Oswald bei Freistadt, a village frequently used by youth organisations for camping, according to a state police spokesperson.
Following the blast, officers inspected an adjacent fire pit and discovered another object containing explosives, also described as a "war relic." A bomb disposal unit was called to neutralise the device.
Investigation Underway
"Investigations are currently underway to determine how war relics came to be under the campfire area," police said in a statement. The severity of the children's injuries was not immediately clear, but they were taken to a children's hospital in the nearby city of Linz.
While World War Two-era bombs are still frequently uncovered in Austria, particularly during excavation work for construction, accidents such as this are rare. The incident serves as a stark reminder of the lingering dangers of unexploded ordnance from the conflict.
