The Latvian Defence Ministry has offered its apologies to the residents of Riga for the scare caused by the Namejs 2021 military exercise in the city centre.
The drill sparked a backlash among residents after video footage of the military firing blanks among civilians went viral on social media.
Witnesses saw a soldier fire over the head of a mother holding a young child, frightening her. Another video showed a military officer shooting a machine gun over the rooftops of passing automobiles on Riga’s main thoroughfare.
“During such drills, we only use blank cartridges, which make noise but do not pose any danger to the health and life of others. In this case, blank cartridges were also used, and this situation was a bitter misunderstanding, for which we apologise. The Defence Ministry calls on the public to show understanding for the exercises”, the ministry said in a statement, as quoted by the news portal TVNET.
Forsided, 13.09.2021
Source: Sputnik News