Three Irish hurt in Prague bomb blast
Three Irish men and five British people were injured in Prague today when attackers reportedly detonated a bomb in a packed tourist area.
The three Irish and at least two of the Britons were sitting together at a cafe in Na Prikope street in the centre of the historic city when the explosion went off.
All eight were taken to hospital, but none of the injuries was thought to be life-threatening.
At least 18 people, including a child, were thought to have been hurt in the explosion at around 12.30pm local time (11.30am Irish time) near a casino.
It rocked the popular pedestrian zone in the city centre, which contains many restaurants and cafes.
Czech authorities said the casino’s owners were the likely intended target of the blast, which was believed to be a criminal rather than terrorist act.
The Associated Press reported that the bomb went off under a car.
The Irish Department of Foreign Affairs confirmed that three Irish people were taken to hospital with minor injuries following the explosion.
“An official from the Irish embassy in Prague is in contact with them and providing assistance,” said a spokeswoman.
The embassy official in Prague said she had spoken to the men who were due to be released from hospital shortly.
“They felt fine, they are okay,” she said. “It was such a shock, but it is a relief for their families, their friends and for us that they are alright.
“They do not have to stay in the hospital overnight.”
She said a list of all the injured had been drawn up and it was not thought that any more Irish citizens were involved.
“The three Irish people and two British – they were sitting together,” she said.
Details of the blast were initially sketchy with first reports indicating it was a hand grenade attack.
A British embassy spokesman said: “It sounds like someone threw a hand grenade, or two hand grenades, one of which exploded. All the injured were either sat nearby or walking past.
“It sounds like the grenades were targeted at a passing car.”
The area of Na Prikope street, where the explosion happened, was cordoned off to the public while police were investigating.
The injured also included tourists from the US, Germany and Slovakia, Czech officials said.
Police spokeswoman Iva Knolova said: “We can rule out it was a terrorist attack -it was a criminal act.”
A UK Foreign Office spokeswoman said there were three men and two women among the injured Britons and next of kin were being informed.
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