Czechs investigate fire after reports of anti-Israel group claiming responsibility

Czechs investigate fire after reports of anti-Israel group claiming responsibility

Investigation into Industrial Complex Fire in Pardubice

PRAGUE, March 20 (Reuters) - Czech investigators are investigating an overnight fire at an industrial complex as potentially being a deliberate attack, officials said on Friday, following media reports that a group protesting against Israeli weapons claimed responsibility.

Details of the Incident

Firefighters said early on Friday on X that they had responded to a fire at a storage hall in a complex in Pardubice, 120 km (75 miles) east of Prague. No one was injured in the fire, which spread to another building.

Claims of Responsibility

Czech news website Aktualne.cz reported that a protest group said it had set fire to a "key manufacturing hub" for Israeli weapons in Pardubice to end its role in the "genocide in Gaza."

Company Response

Czech defence firm LPP Holding, with a location in the complex, confirmed a fire at one of its facilities. But it said plans it had announced in 2023 to cooperate with Israeli company Elbit Systems on drone production were never implemented.

"No Israeli drones have ever been manufactured at our facility," LPP said.

Authorities' Investigation and Reactions

After the fire, police initially said they were investigating whether it was intentional and checking public claims of a "concrete group," without naming it. 

They later said investigators with security services were probing the incident under a section of the criminal code dealing with terrorism.

Government Statements

"Based on what we know so far, it is likely the incident may be related to a terrorist attack," Interior Minister Lubomir Metnar said.

Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babis said he would convene a state security council meeting due to the incident.

(Reporting by Jason Hovet; Editing by Mark Porter)