Czech, US nationals among suspects charged in Pardubice terror arson case
Police have detained three people, including one Czech and one US citizen, on terrorism charges following last week’s arson attack against an arms producer’s facility in Pardubice. One suspect was arrested in Slovakia, and other members of the group are believed to be still at large.
Friday’s arson attack on LPP Holding’s Pardubice facilities –which was filmed on video by the pro-Palestinian group claiming responsibility for the attack – sparked a massive search for the culprits and tightened security measures at dozens of institutions.
Police confirmed the first three arrests shortly after 2pm on Tuesday stating that one suspect was detained in Slovakia in cooperation with Slovak authorities and prosecutors, while two others – a young man and a young woman - were arrested in the Czech Republic. They made no attempt to conceal their identities as they were escorted to the courthouse. When approached by journalists, the man shouted “Free Palestine” in English, and a group of pro-Palestinian activists sitting on the pavement called out “We love you”.
Both suspects were charged with terrorism and remanded in custody. Judge Karel Gobernac later gave a brief statement to the press.
“For terrorist activities the suspects could face punishment from twenty years in jail to an exceptional sentence. Neither of them admitted to having committed the crimes and both refused to testify. I can confirm that one of the detained is a Czech citizen, the other is a foreign national.”
It was later revealed that the young man lived in Egypt and briefly studied in the Czech Republic and the woman is a Czech citizen.
The third suspect, a woman, is also reported to be a US national. Chief Prosecutor Zdeněk Štepánek provided some details:
“The person detained on Slovak territory was arrested on an Interpol arrest warrant and remains in detention. Proceedings are underway to extradite this suspect to the Czech Republic.”
Interior Minister Lubomír Metnar briefly addressed the case during a parliamentary session on Tuesday, saying that the police are continuing to work with international partners to locate additional suspects.
Authorities tight-lipped in view of ongoing police operation
According to earlier reports police said they were investigating the case as a suspected terrorist attack and were considering four possible scenarios. Among them is the possibility of a false flag operation, where the group may have acted as a cover for another entity.
The pro-Palestinian group, which claimed responsibility for the attack, said it was targeting weapons production linked to Israel.
LPP Holding had previously announced plans to cooperate with Israeli firm Elbit Systems on drone development in Pardubice, though the company later stated the partnership never materialized.
In a statement, viewed by the Czech News Agency, the group threatened to release confidential documents unless LPP Holding publicly severs any ties with Elbit Systems and condemns the occupation of Palestine.
The group warned other companies to follow suit or face similar consequences, setting a deadline for its demands on April 20.
LPP Holding said it had reported the threats to the police and would not comment further due to the ongoing investigation.
Tightened security measures at selected sites around the country
In response to the incident and the war in the Middle East, Minister Metnar announced increased security measures ahead of the upcoming Easter holidays. These will include enhanced protection of cultural, sporting, and public events, transport hubs, and Prague’s international airport, along with road checks and search operations. Armed patrols equipped with long guns will be deployed in crowded areas.
The Czech Republic remains at the second level of its four-tier terrorism threat scale, indicating a moderate risk. The level was not raised following the Pardubice attack, despite an emergency meeting of the State Security Council on the day of the fire. Prime Minister Andrej Babiš has urged companies involved in military production to strengthen security at their facilities.
Damage costs expected to reach hundreds of millions of crowns
The fire at LPP’s facilities on Dělnická Street, affected both a production hall and an administrative building. The company reportedly manufactures drones, some of which go to Ukraine, which previously triggered speculation of a possible Russian link. According to company director Miroslav Žižka, the attackers gained entry using a large hammer and an axe. Damages are expected to reach hundreds of millions of Czech crowns.
Interior Minister Metnar criticized the facility’s security as inadequate, citing assessments from police and other security personnel present at the scene.
