Here's an excerpt from a story that broke this morning. I've made a few comments below.
Full article here (Sydney Morning Herald)

Let me start by telling those who don't know that I am ex-military. I represented my regiment as a member of the shooting team for a few years and I've used a fair number of military and civilian weapons in my time.

In my experience, the events detailed below are, as the article says, "incomprehensible" – at least in terms of any forthcoming explanation that relies on any use of the word "accident". I'm sticking my neck out to say it, but I'll bet you this wasn't an accident folks. Not a chance – not even the slightest.

The examples I've enclosed at the end of this post will probably convince you of this.

As can be seen clearly, the live round is the one with the copper tip. It is the copper tip that shoots out from the barrel of the weapon. The larger lower section, the casing made of brass, is the bit that gets ejected harmlessly beside you.

The blank round has a crimped tip which has been dipped in green paint. Normally it would be shiny like the other one, but this example is old and tarnished. Sometimes blank rounds are coloured black (anodized). Either way, blank rounds don't have a copper tip. Instead the casing is made slightly longer and the end is crimped together. In addition, it weighs noticeably less than a live round, because there's no copper tip. Everyone who's seen one of each knows the difference and could identify each type blindfolded.

The point is, there is no room for error, as there are no 'in-between' rounds, i.e. there are no rounds which are designed to be ambiguous as to whether they or live or blank: because that would be stupid!

So, could the soldiers have been a victim of a mistake at the armoury? Did they perhaps get issued magazines containing the incorrect ammo as a result of some slip up by the guy doing the issuing? Well I'd have to say no and there are several reasons for that.

Firstly, in the UK military at least, rounds are issued separately from magazines, ie you don't get given a magazine full of rounds, fit it on your weapon and start firing. You are responsible for that weapon, so rounds are counted out to you, or supplied in a box of a fixed number. Either way you usually fill your magazine yourself and you know what you're putting in there. I've never been given a magazine full of ammo that I've not witnessed being loaded and even if I did, the first thing I'd do is remove the ammo, count it and repack it myself. It's just the way it is, because as I said, YOU are responsible for that weapon and controls are very tight by necessity. I can't PROVE that each man loaded his own magazine here, but I'd be VERY surprised if that were not the case. So, look at those pics again and ask yourself whether these guys knew what they were doing – and remember this wasn't some Boy's Brigade outing: these were highly trained French paratroopers.

Secondly. they injured seventeen people; FOUR of them critically (another report says five). Again, put yourself in the shoes of the soldier. Why are you aiming at the crowd anyway? Even with blank rounds on board you'd never do that. Not only is it very bad etiquette but it's also dangerous – and again, a soldiers basic training will have taught him that blanks can effect serious harm when used in certain ways. Blanks or no blanks, you just don't go around pointing loaded rifles at people unless you mean it.

Thirdly, the instant the FIRST shot was fired, if you didn't know it before, you'd know it then. Live rounds and blanks sound different and the weapon recoils differently. Not only that, but you'd see the effects of the first shots and you'd stop: wouldn't you? This is not the movies we're talking about here. Weapons like these can blow a person's back clean off with a single shot.

In truth, I don't know what's gone on here, but if you've read this far then my guess is that like me you have a sense that something is highly irregular. If the official explanation goes on to spin this out into some kind of "accident" I'm going to be very suspicious.

Looks more like a criminal and ghastly psy-op to me.

PS: Just thought I'd add in passing, that the illegal and treasonous Treaty of Lisbon moves the EU closer to a common foreign policy and defence force than ever before. Sooner rather than later there will be a European Army. In other words, you might have to rely on these guys one day.

Good luck with that...