Prague suburb wants Palestinian embassy to move away over blast
Prague, Jan 3 (ČTK) —Palestine’s embassy should move away from Prague-Suchdol because diplomats illegally kept arms and explosives in the embassy’s future seat, violating both Czech and international law, Prague-Suchdol Mayor Petr Hejl said today.
The Prague-Suchdol Town Hall has called on the Czech Foreign Ministry to move the Palestinian Embassy away from its territory.
Czech Police discovered unregistered weapons in the embassy building in connection with an explosion that caused the death of Palestinian Ambassador Jamal Al Jamal on Wednesday.
First Deputy Foreign Minister Jiří Schneider told Hejl today that he shares the fears of the city neighborhood.
“Deputy minister Schneider spoke to Mr Hejl today and told him that the Foreign Ministry shares the fears and is ready to discuss the situation,” ministry spokeswoman Johana Grohová told ČTK.
Schneider told ČTK earlier today that he and his Palestinian counterpart are discussing cooperation in the investigation into the blast.
Jamal succumbed to the injuries he suffered in the blast of an as yet unspecified explosive while handling the embassy’s safe in his diplomatic flat in the Prague-Suchdol neighbourhood. The police ruled out any foul play. Jamal succumbed to the injuries he suffered in the blast of an as yet unspecified explosive while mishandling the embassy’s safe in his diplomatic flat in the Prague-Suchdol neighborhood. The police ruled out the possibility that anybody killed Jamal.
The embassy’s spokesman denied the original information from the Palestinians who said the explosive was part of safe-deposits’ security mechanism.
According to unconfirmed information, up to 70 quick-firing rifles were revealed.
Hejl said the Prague-Suchdol councilors felt deceived by the fact that Palestinian diplomats secretly kept arms and explosives. The local authorities do not trust the diplomats anymore, he added.
Hejl previously said the new building of the embassy has not yet received the official final approval for use. Adam Halmoši, spokesman for Prague’s 6th district part of which Suchdol is, confirmed the information today.
Prague policemen, who are investigating the incident, uncovered several weapons that had not been registered in Czech Republic in the embassy building on Thursday. They are now trying to find out how the weapons got to the embassy.
Updated to include the Foreign Ministry response.
