WORLD : Blast Rocks Soviet’s Czech Base
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PRAGUE, Czechoslovakia — An explosion rocked a Soviet weapons arsenal and exercise area, causing no injuries but destroying 500 anti-tank grenades, 44 pounds of gunpowder and 26 pounds of TNT, the state news agency CTK said today.
CTK said the explosion late Tuesday afternoon was caused by careless handling of ammunition by Soviet soldiers who were trying to destroy it.
Windows were blown out of buildings in a village near the Libava base, 180 miles east of Prague, CTK said, quoting Defense Ministry spokesman Stanislav Pohoral.
The explosion was caused by “gross violation of safety regulations” by army personnel at the base, Pohoral said.
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