Five people killed in Colombia as Soldier tossed grenade into crowd

An army soldier tossed a grenade into a crowd at a street fair Monday in southwest Colombia, killing five people and injuring five others, authorities said.

Pvt. Luis Alvaro Hernandez was on a counterinsurgency operation Sunday night when he went absent without leave and walked to the town of Isnos, 375 kilometers (217 miles) southwest of Bogota, Brig. Gen. Carlos Arturo Suarez said.

The attack occurred early Monday, and Isnos Mayor Abel Clavijo told Caracol radio that authorities did not know why he allegedly lobbed the grenade into the crowd.

Hernandez was arrested, Suarez said, reports the AP.