News

The Prague police have stepped up security after detaining a South American man on Saturday evening who is suspected of having been hired by Russia to carry out an arson attack on Czech territory.

Police had been looking for the man since Thursday after he poured gasoline on some buses in the Prague 9 district and attempted unsuccessfully to set them on fire. The man fled the scene and the police spent two days searching for him, even calling on the public on Friday to help with the search. They eventually found and arrested the suspect on Saturday.

According to news site Deník N, security forces were already on high alert due to a series of mysterious arson attacks on infrastructure in Germany and the Baltic states that have occurred in recent months and therefore immediately suspected that this attack could be linked to these other similar cases. After checking the suspect's mobile phone, they discovered the man was a member of a Telegram group in which arson attacks were being discussed. The Czech secret service suspects Russia of being behind the attempted attack and are now investigating the case.

Czech tennis player Kateřina Siniaková won her eighth Grand Slam doubles title at the French Open on Sunday afternoon. She and her doubles partner, the US player Cori "Coco" Gauff, beat the Italian duo Sara Errani and Jasmine Paolini 7:6, 6:3 on clay in the Roland-Garros final in Paris.

This is the third time Siniaková has won a doubles title at the French Open, previously winning with her usual doubles partner and fellow Czech, Barbora Krejčíková, in 2018 and 2021.

The National Heritage Institute concluded the first stage of its restoration of Litomyšl Castle on Saturday, which included repairing roofs, chimneys and windows and restoring some of the original historical interiors on the second and third floors of the castle. The extensive building works lasted about a year and a half and cost 265 million crowns.

This stage of the renovation works was partially paid for with an EU subsidy of CZK 207 million. The next stage, which will involve restoring other castle interiors, facades and the nearby Manor House, will be paid for with national funds. The castle will now remain open all year round.

Fierce storms are predicted to hit most of Czechia on Saturday evening and night, with strong winds, hail, and, in Moravia and Silesia, torrential rainfall. The only exception is the northwestern part of the country, which should escape the bad weather.

The Czech Hydrometeorological Institute has issued a warning, to remain in force until 3 am on Sunday morning, that the storms may uproot trees and cause flooding, property damage, power outages and traffic jams. The institute recommends securing windows and doors and driving with caution.