Atragic incident occurred at a house party in Knin, Croatia, on Saturday, resulting in the death of a 25-year-old man and injuring three others.
According to authorities, the fatal accident involved a hand grenade from the Yugoslavia era, which was handed to the victim by another 25-year-old man. The grenade exploded unexpectedly, causing the devastating consequences.
“Due to improper handling, the grenade accidentally detonated in the hands of the deceased 25-year-old,” according to a statement from the police, as reported by CNN, quoting its affiliate N1.
In addition to the 25-year-old fatality, a 23-year-old man and a 21-year-old woman, both party attendees, suffered injuries from the blast.
Authorities have launched a criminal investigation to uncover how the M-75 grenade, a relic from the Yugoslavia era, came into possession of those at the party.
The proliferation of privately-owned weapons in Croatia is a lingering consequence of the country’s War of Independence (1991-1995).
Furthermore, landmines continue to contaminate parts of the country. This year, residents of the Sibenik-Knin region, where the incident occurred, have surrendered over 5,000 items to the authorities, highlighting the ongoing issue of unregulated weaponry.