Palestinian Ambassador in Prague Killed in Blast

by Associated Press

Wed, Jan 1, 2014 12:46PM

Jamel al-Jamal the Palestinian ambassador to the Czech Republic died Wednesday in a blast that occurred when he opened an old safe that had been left untouched for more than 20 years, officials said. Prague rescue service spokeswoman Jirina Ernestova said al-Jamal was placed in a medically induced coma when he first arrived at Prague Military Hospital. From 2005-2013, al-Jamal served as consul general in Alexandria, Egypt. In October 2013, he was appointed ambassador in Prague.

Palestinian Foreign Minister Riad Malki said no foul play was suspected, noting that the safe had been left untouched for more than 20 years.

It also appeared that the door of the safe had been booby-trapped, according to Zoulova. It was unclear how al-Jamal tried to open it or what type of safe it was.

The safe was recently moved from the old embassy building, but it had come from a building that used to house the Palestinian Liberation Organization's offices in the 1980s, Malki said.

"The ambassador decided to open it. After he opened it, apparently something happened inside (the safe) and went off," Malki told The Associated Press.

It was not immediately clear how Malki knew the safe had been untouched for more than 20 years or why and when the safe would have been booby-trapped.

Complete article at:

http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/explosion-hit-palestine-diplomat-flat-prague-21388849

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