Army heightens suitability checks

The Swiss army has been screening new recruits to make sure they’re safe to be given an army weapon.

The heightened checks follow the case of a 21-year-old recruit who took his gun with stolen ammunition back in 2007. He aimed and shot dead a 16-year-old girl who was waiting for a bus to go her hairdressing job.

The shooting was random – there was no connection with the shooter.

Last year 258 people were refused to join the army as they were declared a security risk and should not be issued an army weapon.

An Army spokesman says there’s a slight upward trend on those refused permission to serve. 

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