Palestinian ambassador dead from apartment explosion
PRAGUE, Czech Republic (AP) — An explosion rocked the apartment of the Palestinian ambassador yesterday, seriously injuring the diplomat.
Palestinian Embassy spokesman Nabil El-Fahel told Czech public radio that Ambassador Jamel al-Jamal was hospitalised with serious injuries from the blast. News later surfaced that he had died.
The ambassador was in the flat with his family at the time of the explosion, El-Fahel said.
The Palestinian Foreign Ministry, meanwhile, said the explosion occurred when the ambassador was moving an old office safe box.
It was not immediately clear how the explosives ended up in the safe box, but the ministry said the blast was being investigated.
Prague rescue service spokeswoman Jirina Ernestova had earlier said that the 56-year-old diplomat was in a medically induced coma. She said a 52-year old woman was also taken to the hospital after suffering from shock.
The ambassador’s apartment is in Prague’s Suchdol neighbourhood.
A Palestinian official said foul play is not suspected in the death.
