Errant Tank Round Hits Monastery At Base Of Mount Olympus

[matcom]

<snip>

A MONASTERY in the foothills of Mount Olympus, central Greece, has been damaged by a tank round fired from a neighbouring military range, the Greek army said on Tuesday.

"It was a routine target exercise," an army spokesman told AFP of the accident.

"One of the shells hit a tree and ricocheted towards the monastery," the officer said, declining to identify the number or type of tanks involved.

The monastery, which is dedicated to Saint Dionysius, is built in a forested area neighbouring an army firing range.

Television footage showed the monastery's front gate pierced by the shrapnel. A number of visitors' cars parked in its front yard were also damaged, the Athens News Agency reported.

"I feel that Saint Dionysius was watching over us yesterday," a resident monk told reporters. "If that had not happened, three people would certainly have been killed."

The army will investigate the incident, the officer said. The monks have asked authorities to remove the firing range.

http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,17564780-13762,00.html

[StopTheMorans]

1. "I feel that Saint Dionysius was watching over us yesterday,"

hey asshole, maybe if St. D were doing a better job of watching over you, mortar rounds wouldn't be landing even close to your sacred enclave :thumbsdown: