Five soldiers were killed and another three were seriously injured this morning during a bomb disposal training exercise in Hoyo de Manzanares, Madrid.
The soldiers, both army and marines, were taking part in an exercise at the Academy of Army Engineers prior to being deployed in the Lebanon to assist the UN with removing mines in the country.
The fatalities were three sergeants and two corporals from the Army and Marine corps and were part of a group of sixteen soldiers taking part in the exercise.
The wounded were airlifted to hospital in Madrid.