Daily news summary

German student investigated on suspicion of trying to blackmail Czech government

A 27-year old German student is being investigated in Sweden on suspicion of having tried to blackmail the Czech government with threats involving an unspecified toxic substance, Swedish media reported citing state attorney Henrik Söderman. No further details were given. Swedish, Czech and German police are reportedly working on the case together with the FBI. In 2014 someone threatened to spread the Ebola virus in the Czech Republic if the government did not pay one million euros. It is not clear if the Swedish investigation pertains to this case.

Czech Republic will readmit group of Iraqi refugees from Germany

The Czech Republic will shortly readmit a group of 20 Christian refugees from Iraq who gave up their asylum here and moved to Germany two weeks ago, the Czech Interior Ministry said. According to Interior Minister Chovanec they will now have the status of illegal migrants and will be placed in a detention centre. Another five members of the group remain in Germany since they are close family members of a man who has already been granted asylum there. The refugees originally came to the Czech Republic within a relocation project for 150 Christian families at risk from Iraq. Another 16 members of the group were detained by Czech police on Thursday as they also tried to move to Germany. They have once again asked for asylum in the Czech Republic. The relocation project was deemed a failure by the government and has since been scrapped. Of the 89 refugees who came here 49 have either attempted to move to Germany or returned to Iraq.

Generation 21 disappointed with outcome of relocation project

Generation 21, which initiated the relocation project for 150 Christian refugees from Iraq has expressed disappointment with the outcome. The NGO was criticized by the government for mismanagement in particular in underestimating the process of selecting the refugees for relocation. The NGO said it had not been asked to return financial contributions from sponsors. The project was financed largely with the help of private sponsors, individuals, churches and a British charity organization. Four million crowns have been put to use so far. Forty of the 89 refugees who came to the Czech Republic remain and are getting help with integration.

Gazdik head of STAN party once again

The center-right party of Mayors and Independents (STAN) elected Petr Gazdik its leader at a party conference on Saturday. He ran for the top post unchallenged and received 133 votes from the 144 delegates present. Gazdik led the party before the election of Liberec governor Martin Půta to the post in 2014. Půta resigned several weeks ago after facing charges of corruption. He is a strong advocate of greater powers for municipalities.

Thousands of Czechs join Lets Do it!

An estimated 70,000 people around the Czech Republic joined Lets Do it!–International Clean-up Day on Saturday. The volunteer event took place in 2,000 towns and villages for the third time. Lets Do It! is a civic-led mass movement that began in Estonia in 2008 when 50,000 people united together to clean up the entire country in just five hours. Since then, Let’s Do It! has spread to 112 countries and 13.8 million people have joined in to clean up illegal waste.

Two pupils expelled from school for bullying teacher

Two of the three pupils who were involved in one of the worst cases of aggression at school in recent years have been expelled. They were caught on camera abusing and bullying their teacher at a Prague school in January 2016. According to their schoolmates the bullying went on for months. The teacher eventually had a breakdown in class and later died in hospital. The headmaster was sacked for not addressing the issue. The third student who was reportedly involved has received milder punishment. The school authorities have maintained that the teacher’s death was not linked with bullying. The cause of her death however remains unclear.

Dahlgren trial to start in May

The trial of American national Kevin Dahlgren who is suspected of killing four of his Czech relatives in 2013, is to open at the Brno Municipal court on May 5th. The 23-year-old suspect fled from the Czech Republic in 2013 shortly before the bodies of four of his relatives were found in their home in Brno-Ivančice. He was extradited to the Czech Republic by the US late last year. If convicted Dahlgren faces a potential life sentence .