Police investigate tragic explosion that took place during Communism

A department of the Czech police that investigates communist-era crimes has started looking into a 1984 explosion in a residential tower block building in Moravia, the daily Právo reported. According to a testimony given by former secret police agent Karel Muroň a month ago, the explosion was not, as previously believed, an accident. Mr. Muroň claims that it was planned by the Communist secret police, the StB, in an effort to disband the Charter 77, a dissident group whose most prominent member was Václav Havel, who later became the Czech president. According to the testimony, the StB was going to charge members of the Charter 77 with having caused the explosion. Mr. Muroň claims he was one of the agents to take part in organizing it, but escaped to Poland before it took place. The explosion, which killed twelve people and injured nine, is considered the most tragic event of this kind in Czech history.

Author: Sarah Borufka