News

Prague under high-security alert

The Czech capital, Prague, is in its second day of a high-alert security watch. Special security measures were enacted at 4am on Saturday, after an extraordinary session of the Czech cabinet decided to increase security measures in the capital city because of a possible terrorist threat. Prague's Ruzyne airport has implemented what are being described as "massive security measures," though no flights have been cancelled. The city centre and other possible targets are also being patrolled by additional specialized police units, and the police chief says that there is no need to call for the army's assistance at this time. Surveillance in the city is assisted by 1100 cameras, 600 of which are in the metro system. Czech Interior Minister Ivan Langer has stressed that it is the first time that the Czech Republic faces such a concrete threat.

The daily Pravo's on-line service, Novinky, reports that the terrorist threat is related to the Jewish New Year, and that Prague's Jewish district of Josefov likely faces the most serious threat. Speaking at a press conference, Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek said that he would neither deny nor confirm the reports. Authorities have said that the situation in the Czech capital is connected to Friday's developments in Norway, where four men were arrested and police are said to have uncovered a terrorist plot to bomb the Israeli and American embassies in Norway.

Anonymous threatening calls complicate situation

The extraordinary security measures have also inspired several prank callers, complicating the situation for police. The first serious threat came on Saturday, shortly after the news of the terrorist threat was made public. A bomb threat forced the closure of Prague's metro line 'C', but a police investigation found nothing.

An anonymous bomb threat was also called in to the Marriott hotel in Prague 3 early Sunday morning, forcing the evacuation of 200 hotel guests. Police searched the premises but found no explosives. Police are warning that if the prank callers are identified and found guilty, they face up to five years in jail.

Frantisek Bublan says reaction to terrorist threat slow

Speaking on the Sunday TV program Otazky Vaclava Moravce, the head of the committee on security in the lower house, Frantisek Bublan, said that the issue of a terrorist threat in Prague will be on the table for discussion at Monday's meeting of the security committee. Mr. Bublan said that he feels initial intelligence information of recent weeks wasn't taken very seriously by the Czech authorities, and that the situation only escalated given developments in Norway on Friday. Mr. Bublan added that the possible terrorist threat is a signal that the Czech Republic belongs to the European family of states, and that it must face the accompanying circumstances head-on.

President Vaclav Klaus begins foreign tour

President Vaclav Klaus has begun a 12-day foreign tour, which will include a heavy emphasis on economic relations. Mr. Klaus' first stop is the Russian city of Omsk, where representatives of Czech companies will sign contracts in the tens of millions of Euros. Mr. Klaus will pay a state visit to Mongolia on Monday, and then continue on to visit the Chinese province of Shen-si, Vietnam, and Singapore. The President is accompanied by his wife, Livia, and about 40 representatives of Czech firms looking to do business in Asia. The trip is one of the most extensive that Mr. Klaus has undertaken has President. He is expected to return to Prague on October 5.

Vaclav Havel and Madeleine Albright receive award

Former Czech president Vaclav Havel has been awarded the Prize for Understanding between Nationalities and Peoples of Europe. The prize was awarded over the weekend in Pasov, Germnay by the media consortium Verlagsgruppe Passau. Also receiving the same award was Madeleine Albright, the former U.S. Secretary of State, who is of Czech origin. The prize is given to persons who have contributed significantly to the development of democracy, the protection of human rights, and encouraged understanding between different nationalities. The Verlagsgruppe Passau group first awarded the prize in 2005 to the former Israeli prime minister, Simon Peres.

Inmate sets prison on fire, plots escape

An inmate at the Brno prison has made a dramatic escape attempt. The incident happened late Saturday, when an inmate started a fire inside the prison, forcing its evacuation. Then, amidst the thick smoke the man attempted to escape. A spokesman for the prison said that the inmate was captured, but suffered numerous injuries.

Infant's body found by tourists

The body of a newborn was found in the central Bohemian region of Cesky Raj on Saturday. Tourists discovered the baby's body in a dry well while hiking in the region, and police are currently investigating the death. As of yet, there is no information about the deceased infant or the parents.

Osplay takes fourth at triathlon World Cup

Filip Ospaly has placed 4th in the triathlon World Cup in Beijing, China. He was nine seconds behind the third-place finisher; it is Ospaly's best result of the season. The World Cup took place in the Beijing stadium that will play host to the summer Olympic Games in two years.

Weather

Mostly sunny skies are expected for the next couple of days, with daytime highs of 21 degrees Celsius.