A Czech man has been detained in Croatia after he entered a restricted military zone and took an explosive device that subsequently detonated and killed a child, Croatian police said.
The blast, which occurred on June 19 near the central coastal city of Zadar, killed a nine-year-old Czech child and injured three elder Czechs who were in the same vehicle, AFP reported.
The 46-year-old suspect - who was travelling in the car with his family and friends, including the child - entered a restricted area of a military training ground with the boy and allowed the latter "to pick up an explosive device", police said.
The suspect then personally placed it in his car.
When the car subsequently broke down on a nearby road, the child passenger removed the explosive device from the vehicle.
It detonated, killing him instantly and injuring three others in the group.
Local media say the boy is the suspect's son.
Croatian police said the man "failed to comply with clearly posted written warnings in Croatian and English in a designated danger zone on a military training ground."
They said they charged him with committing a "serious criminal act" and "endangering life and property".
An investigation, including forensic examinations to determine the type of explosive device, is ongoing, they added.
Czech authorities confirmed the incident and the arrest.
"I can confirm that a Czech national has been arrested in connection with the explosion in the Zadar area. Given the fact that a child died in the incident, we will not provide any information," Czech Foreign Ministry spokesman Daniel Drake said.
The Croatian defense ministry regretted the incident, which it said was the first of its kind in decades.
It urged the public to heed warning signs near military sites, especially in areas where "unexploded ordnance" may be present.
Nearly 800,000 Czech tourists visited Croatia last year, mainly heading to the stunning Adriatic coast. | BGNES
