Daily news summary
Security council convened after Paris attacks
Czech prime minister Bohuslav Sobotka said Saturday that the country ‘s security council would be convened in emergency session from 1600 hours in the afternoon in Prague in reaction to the Paris attacks. At least 120 were reported killed in a series of attacks in Paris on Friday night. Minister of the Interior Milan Chovanec said on Czech Television that there was no reason to believe that Czechs were among the victims or that there was any immediate threat of such attacks in the Czech Republic.
Czech Police say security stepped up in wake of Paris attacks
Czech Police said on their website that they already stepped up security precautions on Saturday night following the attacks in the French capital. Increased vigilance is being undertaken at shopping centres, at international airports, and at the French embassy, the police said. As well as criminal police, officers from the special squad combatting organised crime are also involved. In cooperation with security services, all information is being gather and analysed but at this stage there is nothing to suggest a Paris-style attack could take place in the Czech Republic, the police said.
Czechs takes flowers, light candles at French embassy in Prague
Czechs began to lay flowers and light candles outside the French embassy in Prague on Saturday to mark their solidarity with the victims of the Paris attacks. Blacks flags were hung from Prague Castle with the changing of the guard to be performed without the traditional music, the spokesman for Czech president Miloš Zeman announced. Zeman’s planned attendance at the Fed Cup final in Prague on Saturday was also cancelled. Many theatres across the country said they would hold a minute’s silence before performances on Saturday. Islamic State has claimed responsibility for the series of attacks in the French capital that claimed the lives of at least 150 people.
Petra Kvitová gets Czech Republic off to winning start in Fed Cup final
Petra Kvitová got defending Fed Cup title holders the Czech Republic off to a winning start in the Fed Cup final at Prague on Saturday. In the opening tie, the Czech women’s number one came back from losing the first set to Russia’s Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova 2:6. She triumphed in the second 6:1 and took the final third set 6:1. Maria Sharapova came back to draw the tie 1:1 with a 6:3; 6:4 win against Karolina Plíšková
Martin Stropnický backed by meeting to head ANO party in Prague
Current Minister of Defence Martin Stropnický has been designated to lead the Prague section of the ANO party. Stropnický’s designation was approved at a special meeting in which 142 out of 169 party representatives approved of the move. The choice must be given final approval of the party at its national level but this is expected to be almost a formality. Stropnický will replace Radmila Kleslová who stepped down from the position on October 27. At Saturday’s meeting ANO party leader Andrej Babiš said the Prague party had been divided within and subject to attack by traditional parties which disliked it as a newcomer on the political scene.
Czech weather office issues winds warning
The Czech weather office warned of high winds Sunday which could reach speeds of up to 110 km/hour on Sunday. The warning applies from 9 am in the morning to 9 pm at night. Wind speeds will be capable of breaking off branches and causing trees to fall, the office said. The warning applies to all of Bohemia and western parts of Moravia
Czechs beat Serbia 4:1 in football friendly
In football, the Czech Republic beat Serbia 4:1 in a friendly on Friday night. The Czech team struggled with possession in the first half at Ostrava but nonetheless opened the scoring with captain Tomáš Sivok finding the net. In the second half, the Czechs looked more comfortable and Tomáš Necid made it two from the penalty spot. Goals followed later from substitutes Ladislav Krejči and Ondřej Zahustel.
