A Russian border guard high on hallucinogenic mushrooms shot dead at least five fellow servicemen and injured others on the frontier with Georgia, officials said today.
"A serviceman opened fire with no apparent motive. As a result five people died and six are in hospital," Mr Yuri Boyko of the Federal Border Guards told NTV television.
Itar-Tass news agency had earlier quoted unnamed law enforcement agencies as saying eight soldiers had died.
In a statement, the Border Guards said Mr Denis Solovyov was "under the influence of hallucinogenic plants" when he opened fire in the southern region of Karachayevo-Cherkessia, near the rebel Chechnya province, last night.
The Border Guards said Solvyov was arrested immediately at the scene.
Hallucinogenic mushrooms, commonly known as "magic mushrooms", contain traces of powerful drugs. In large amounts, they have effects comparable to LSD, one of the most potent psyochactive drugs known.
Tales of substance abuse are common in Russia's army, where brutality and desertions are commonplace.
Reuters