German soldier drives car into crowd

A soldier drove his car into a group of soldiers on a German army base before dawn today, injuring 13 people, a military official said.

All of those hurt were completing their basic military service at the Werratal Barracks in Bad Salzungen in the eastern German state of Thuringia, said Lt. Col. Philipp Leydi, a German army spokesman.

Defence ministry spokesman Christian Dienst said seven of those wounded suffered serious injuries and were transported by helicopter to nearby hospitals.

Leydi said the German army was considering the incident to be an accident and had no indication it was intended as a deliberate attack. The driver, who has not been identified, was not injured but was being treated for shock, Leydi said.

Police said earlier that it was not immediately clear what had caused the soldier to drive his car into the group in the dark.

An investigation was ongoing.

The barracks, where several hundred soldiers are stationed, was partially evacuated and sealed off following the incident.