Czech authorities discovered illegal weapons in the residence of recently deceased Palestinian Ambassador to the Czech Republic Jamal al-Jamal, who died when a safe at his Prague residence exploded in what appears to have been an accident.
Prague police spokeswoman Andrea Zoulova stated that "Several illegal firearms were seized by the police in the flat of the late Palestinian ambassador" but declined to specify the type, origin or number of weapons that were seized.
In Prague, gun owners must obtain a permit from authorities and register the weapons. According to Prague police chief Martin Vondrasek, the weapons found in the ambassador's residence had not been registered with Czech authorities.
The ambassador had recently moved into the new residence, which is also the site of the new Palestinian Embassy. Following the blast and discovery of illegal weapons, neighbors of Jamal's are calling for Czech officials to move the location of the Palestinian Embassy. Prague-Suchdol Mayor Petr Hejl told the Prague Post that the Palestinian diplomats violated both Czech and international law by housing illegal arms and explosives.
Czech police believe the explosion that killed the 56-year-old al-Jamal was triggered by a safety mechanism when the ambassador attempted to open an old safe recently moved from the old diplomatic mission to his new residence.
[CNN] [New York Times] [Prague Post] [UPI]
