Truck carrying Syrian migrants crashes in Prague after police chase

Czech Police are currently searching for the driver of a truck that avoided a police check near Prague and went on to crash in the capital’s Holešovice district on Thursday morning. The driver fled the vehicle together with a group of mainly Syrian migrants, 29 of whom have thus far been detained by the Czech Foreign Police. It has been announced that the Foreign Police will also be in charge of the subsequent investigation.

In 2020 the Czech Police detained 83 Syrians who were illegally crossing through the country. After Afghan nationals, Syrians made up the largest group of illegal migrants detained in Czechia last year. According to police statistics, Syrians typically do not choose to apply for asylum in the Czech Republic.