Investigation of a shooting incident at Terningmoen Shooting and Training Range

The Norwegian Safety Investigation Authority (NSIA) has initiated an investigation into a shooting incident at the Terningmoen Shooting and Training Range on 21 June 2026. During a live-fire exercise, a machine gun slipped from its support and a round was discharged into a steel plate in front of the firing position. As a result, fragments from the projectile ricocheted and struck a fellow soldier. The injuries were considered minor.

The shooter and the fellow soldier were positioned on a berm approximately 200 metres from the target boards. A steel plate runs along the entire length of the berm, and the soldiers were lying approximately one metre behind it. A pallet was used as a support to raise the weapon sufficiently to provide clearance above the steel plate.

During the final shot, one of the machine gun’s legs slipped off the pallet. The projectile struck the steel plate at a 90-degree angle. Two fragments of the projectile struck the fellow soldier, who was positioned approximately five metres to the left of the shooter. The fragments hit the soldier’s hearing protection and thigh.

The investigation will establish the sequence of events and identify contributing factors. Any underlying conditions that may have contributed to the incident will be examined and analysed. Based on these findings, the Norwegian Safety Investigation Authority will identify areas for improving safety.

It is not the NSIA’s task to apportion blame or liability under criminal or civil law. The purpose of the investigation is solely to contribute to learning and the prevention of serious incidents and accidents.

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The shooting range used during the incident in which the steel plate was struck, and the pallet used as a support. Photo: The Norwegian Armed Forces

Latest update: 12.08.2026

Facts

Location Terningmoen Shooting and Training Range, Innlandet County
Occurrence date 21.06.2026
Category of Occurrence Incident
Defence branch The Norwegian Army
Incident type Weapon
County Innlandet