Gaza, Aug 13 (IANS): At least five Palestinians and one Italian photo-journalist were killed Wednesday when an Israeli missile an engineering police unit was dismantling in northern Gaza Strip exploded, security officials said.
The Israeli missile detonated when the unit was trying to move it from a populated area in northern Gaza to an empty place to blow it up, said Iyad al-Bozom, spokesman of the interior ministry in Gaza.
"The unit headed to the populated area in northern Gaza where local residents informed the police that a suspected missile was located," Xinhua quoted the spokesman as saying.
Ashraf al-Qadra, spokesman of the health ministry in Gaza, said six people, including five Palestinians and one Italian photojournalist who worked for the Associated Press, were killed.
"Six others, including a local photographer working for the Associated Press, were wounded," al-Qadra added.
The five dead Palestinians included Maj. Tayseeer al-Hoom, the commander of the engineering police unit, and four other policemen, al-Bozom said.