Czech department store bomb kills 1, leaves 6 injured (Roundup)

Sep 30, 2010, 19:14 GMT

Bratislava/Prague - One person died and six were injured Thursday when a bomb detonated in a department store in the Czech city of Krnov, Czech media reported.

One of the injured was a policeman, who was listed in grave condition and had to be taken to a hospital in Ostrava by helicopter.

Police had been summoned for a robbery at a currency exchange booth in the department store, reported the CTK news agency and the CT24 news channel, quoting police sources. When a group of four police officers arrived to confront the suspect, the explosion occurred.

Authorities said the deceased is the alleged robber, who had apparently brought the bomb into the store. Different accounts said the explosive was either a hand grenade or a basic bomb.

The wounded included the four policemen. A private security guard working in the store and a customer also sustained light injuries, reported police. A hospital spokesperson said they had already been released.

The bomber's motives remain unclear.