DHAKA: A Palestinian diplomat was killed in an explosion at his home in the Czech capital Prague, apparently while opening a case.

Jamal al-Jamal, the head of the Palestinian mission, had been taken to hospital after the blast, a spokesman for the mission told Czech media.

It is not yet clear what caused the explosion at a two-storey property in the city`s Suchdol district.

A 52-year-old woman was also taken to hospital suffering from shock.

Palestinian mission spokesman Nabil El-Fahel told Czech public radio Mr Jamal had been in the flat with his family at the time of the explosion, AP reports.

Speaking from Ramallah in the West Bank, an unnamed Palestinian official told Reuters news agency the diplomat had only recently moved into the property.

A second Palestinian source told Reuters: "He moved an old case with him to the new house from the old house and when he opened it, the explosion happened."

The novinky.cz news site said the blast had probably been caused by "careless handling of a dangerous explosive".

According to the site, the blast occurred as the diplomat was opening a safe.

There are no visible signs of damage to the house from the street, according to a Reuters reporter at the scene.

The Palestinian Liberation Organisation (PLO), which is recognised by the UN and Israel as representing the Palestinian people, has diplomats based in European and other capitals, and has a mission in Prague.

Source: BBC
BDST: 2143 HRS, JAN 01, 2014
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