Blast kills thief robbing exchange office

Krnov, North Moravia, Sept 30 (CTK) - A hand grenade yesterday probably exploded in a department store in Krnov, killing one man and injuring six, local police spokesman Miroslav Pech said, adding that the victim was probably the man who tried to rob a local exchange office with an explosive in his hand.

The hand grenade exploded during the robber's brawl with the police.

Four police officers, one security man and one buyer are the injured, Pech added.

Pech said the explosion had injured four police officers in action.

The blast rocked the department store at about 14:20.

"We are finding out what exactly happened there," Pech said.

According to the information available to CTK, it is not yet clear whether the robber deliberately blasted off the explosive or whether the detonation occurred by chance.

Pech said the police had been first informed about the robbery of the exchange office.

Pech said the police had arrived at the scene shortly after an emergency call.

"They came at the moment the perpetrator was there. A brawl started and the detonation occurred," Pech said, adding that nothing seems to prove that the police had made any mistake.

"At present, police bomb disposal experts are in the building. Detectives in overalls will be tracking down the traces inside. In the hours to come, we will have no further information," Pech said.

He confirmed that the speculations had surfaced that the robber had a hand grenade with him.

"I have heard it. But at the moment, we can neither confirm nor deny this," Pech said.

A police patrol was sent to the scene. The explosive was detonated at the moment they intervened against the perpetrator, Pech said.

"The health condition of the injured police is being examined. We have the information that one of them was seriously wounded," he added.

A police officer's life is seriously threatened, emergency service spokesman Lukas Humpl said.

"He has suffered multiple injuries. His condition is serious," Humpl said, adding that the man was airlifted to the Ostrava teaching hospital.

The other three police are being treated in the Krnov hospital, spokeswoman Eva Kijonkova said.

"Two of the police have suffered medium injuries, the third light injuries," Kijonkova said.