Czech expert: Palestinians may have used Czech Republic for weapons transit

By JPOST.COM STAFF

LAST UPDATED: 01/05/2014 19:33

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Former Czech chief-of-staff: "Maybe the affair in question involves a well organized weapons and explosives distribution network."

 

An investigator works at the site of the explosion in Prague January 1, 2014. Photo: REUTERS

A former Czech official suggested that the Palestinians may have used the eastern European country for arms transit, the Czech media reported on Sunday.
Czech police found 12 illegal firearms at the residence of the Palestinian ambassador in Prague in an investigation following his death. Ambassador Jamal al-Jamal was killed in an explosion in his home last Wednesday. 

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In response to speculation in the Czech media that over 70 weapons were found in the embassy building, the former Czech chief-of-staff Jiri Sedivy suggested that the find might be a sign of a larger weapons trading operation.
"Maybe the affair in question involves a well organized weapons and explosives distribution network, including the weapons' further recipients," Sedivy was quoted as saying.
He said he was not referring to terrorism specifically, but rather to the gathering and distribution of military equipment that could be used in military or terrorist activities.
"I´m horrified," continued Sedivy. "This is not only a blatant violation of diplomatic norms and habits but also of security rules related to keeping such an arsenal, with apparent implications in the tragic death of ambassador Jamal al Jamal."
Prague police chief Martin Cervicek has denied allegations by the Czech media that 70 unregistered firearms have been found in the embassy building in Prague district of Suchdol.
Cervicek told Prague daily Dnes that investigators have found only 12 weapons, including submachine guns and pistols.
"I firmly protest against false information that police officers found about 70 weapons. This doesn't make sense," the paper quoted him as saying.
The Suchdol district where the embassy is located has asked the Czech Foreign Ministry to move the Palestinian embassy to another area following the discovery of the illegal arms.
Ambassador al-Jamal was killed in his home in Prague on Wednesday when an explosive device - likely a security mechanism according to Czech police - detonated when he opened a safe. Both Czech police and PA sources say the incident appears to have been an accident.