Terror as copter gunships fire on spectators

BYSTANDERS watching massive military exercises fled in terror when they were FIRED ON by Soviet- era helicopter gunships.

Thousands had gathered to watch the Zapad 2017 military exercises taking place in western Russia and neighbouring Belarus.

Around 13,000 troops, hundreds of tanks, aircraft, warships and other military hardware were participating in the manoeuvres.

The mishap took place at the Luzhsky range, near St Petersburg.

An insider said there appeared to have been a technical glitch on board and “the missiles blasted off on their own” – which is believed to be the secret Russian code for “the pilots were drunk”.

The source added: “At least two cars burned down and two people were seriously injured.

“They were carted off to hospital.”

The Russian defence ministry denied anything untoward had occurred.