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Blast

18 people hurt in accidental explosion at French carnival

Three of the injured were children.

EIGHTEEN PEOPLE WERE hurt, five of them seriously, when a bonfire effigy blew up at a carnival north of Paris on today, emergency workers said.

The blast happened when organisers set fire to a wooden figure during a carnival at Villepinte after a traditional parade by local children.

None of the 18 suffered life-threatening injuries. Three were children.

Police said the effigy of a man, made out of plywood, was ignited by petrol using remote control.

Explosion à #villepinte pic.twitter.com/CTTYyt2jXF
— Jacky Carrel G (@carrel75) April 1, 2017

Jacky Carrel G / Twitter

The blast showered parts of the crowd with sparks and wooden splinters, which led to the injuries, and caused a momentary panic.

An inquiry has been opened.

Read: Six arrested over ‘brutal’ assault on teenage asylum seeker in London>

Author

AFP

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