Palestinian diplomat killed in explosion in Prague
Police guard the residence of Palestinian ambassador to the Czech Republic Jamal Al Jamal.
Police identified the victim as Jamal al Jamal, 57. He was taken to Prague Military Hospital and placed in an induced coma.
"Unfortunately, the Palestinian ambassador has died after suffering serious injuries in an explosion at his Prague residence," police spokeswoman Andrea Zoulova told CNN. "First information obtained in the investigation suggests this is most likely not a terrorist attack."
Police were investigating the possibility that al Jamal himself was "manipulating with explosives," she said.
She added that authorities found evidence of explosives in the debris.
The blast, which occurred at about 12:30 p.m. (6:30 a.m. ET), also injured his 52-year-old wife, who was taken to Motol Hospital after inhaling smoke and suffering from shock, said Jirina Ernestova, a spokeswoman for Prague Emergency Services.
The couple's son, who was also in the house at the time of the blast, was not hurt, police said.
Dogs were searching the two-story building, Zoulova told CNN.
Al Jamal has been a diplomat in the Czech Republic since last October, according to CTK, a state-funded news agency. It added that the building was newly constructed and that it was intended to house the Palestinian diplomatic mission.
