(Adds quote from PM, background on explosion, Russian reaction)
PRAGUE, April 17 (Reuters) - The Czech Republic is expelling 18 Russian diplomats over suspicions that Russian intelligence services were involved in an ammunition explosion in 2014, Prime Minister Andrej Babis and Foreign Minister Jan Hamacek said on Saturday. There is well-grounded suspicion about the involvement of officers of the Russian intelligence service GRU, unit 29155, in the explosion of ammunitions depot in the Vrbetice area, Babis told a briefing shown live on television.
Several explosions shook the Vrbetice ammunition depot, 330 km southeast of Prague, on Oct. 16, 2014. The explosions killed two employees of a private company that was renting the depot from a state military organisation.
SâmbÄtÄ, 17 aprilie 2021, 22:21. Ultimul update SâmbÄtÄ, 17 aprilie 2021, 23:04
Republica CehÄ expulzeazÄ 18 membri ai Ambasadei Rusiei la Praga, ca urmare a suspiciunii cÄ serviciile secrete ruse au fost implicate în explozia unui depozit de muniÈii în 2014, au anunÈat sâmbÄtÄ premierul Andrej Babis Èi ministrul de externe Jan Hamacek, informeazÄ Agerpres, care citeazÄ Reuters.
O explozie produsÄ pe 16 octombrie 2014 într-un fost depozit militar situat la Vlachovice (275 de kilometri sud-est de Praga) a provocat moartea a doi angajaÈi, de 56, respectiv 59 de ani.
ClÄdirea în care a avut loc deflagraÈia adÄpostea circa 50 de tone de muniÈie Èi bombe aeriene. Ãn sÄptÄmânile care au urmat primei explozii s-au produs mai multe deflagraÈii, scrie AFP.
Czechs Blame Russia for 2014 Blast, Expel Embassy Staff msn.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from msn.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
The agency It did not provide further details.
The Czech Republic is expelling 18 Russian diplomats over suspicions that Russian intelligence services were involved in an ammunition explosion in 2014, Prime Minister Andrej Babis and Foreign Minister Jan Hamacek said earlier on Saturday.
(Reporting by Polina Devitt; editing by)
Czechs expel Russian embassy staff, PM says suspected Russian link to ammunition explosion
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April 18, 2021 00:47 IST
Several explosions shook the Vrbetice ammunition depot, 330 km southeast of Prague, on October 16, 2014.
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Several explosions shook the Vrbetice ammunition depot, 330 km southeast of Prague, on October 16, 2014.
The Czech Republic is expelling 18 Russian diplomats over suspicions that Russian intelligence services were involved in an ammunition explosion in 2014, Prime Minister Andrej Babis and Foreign Minister Jan Hamacek said on Saturday.
“There is well-grounded suspicion about the involvement of officers of the Russian intelligence service GRU, unit 29155, in the explosion of ammunitions depot in the Vrbetice area,” Babis told a briefing shown live on television.