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Czechs Detain Fifth Suspect Over Arson Attack on Drone Factory
Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on March 30, 2026
2 min readLast updated: March 30, 2026
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Czech authorities on March 30 detained a fifth suspect in connection with a March 20 arson at an LPP Holding optics and drone facility in Pardubice, claimed by the Earthquake Faction and under investigation as a terrorist attack.
Czech Authorities Detain Fifth Suspect Over Arson Attack on Drone Factory
Details of the Investigation and Suspects
Overview of the Incident
PRAGUE, March 30 (Reuters) - A fifth person was detained in connection with an arson attack on an optics and drone factory in the Czech Republic, a public prosecutor said on Monday.
Progress in the Investigation
Initial Arrests and Suspect Search
Police said on Saturday they had detained a fourth suspect over the March 20 fire, for which a previously unknown pro-Palestinian activist group had claimed responsibility. Czech police said they were searching for other suspects.
Latest Detainment
In a statement on Monday, the Prague high public prosecutor's office said another person was detained on Sunday, but it did not provide details.
Details About the Suspects
Charged Individuals
Police had earlier detained an Egyptian man and a Czech woman and charged them with terrorism. Another person, a U.S. citizen, was detained in neighbouring Slovakia in relation to the attack.
Suspects' Defense and Denials
Alibi for the Egyptian Suspect
A lawyer for the Egyptian said in a statement on Saturday released through Czech news website www.denikreferendum.cz that the suspect, identified only as M, had an alibi for the time of the attack.
Denials of Involvement
The website said a request filed for taking the Egyptian man and Czech woman into custody, provided to them by the lawyer, showed the two had denied taking part in the attack.
The fourth suspect also denied participation in any illegal activity, news agency CTK cited a judge as saying on Saturday.
Background on the Attack and Company
Claim of Responsibility
The group that claimed responsibility said in a statement online that the targeted company was developing weapons for Israel. The company, LPP Holding, announced plans to cooperate with Israeli group Elbit Systems in 2023, but says those plans were never implemented.
LPP Holding's Operations
LPP's production includes drones that are exported to Ukraine, which has been fighting Russian forces since Moscow's 2022 full-scale invasion.
(Reporting by Jason HovetEditing by Bernadette Baum)
Key Takeaways
- •A previously unknown pro‑Palestinian group, Earthquake Faction, claimed responsibility for the blaze, framing it as a protest against alleged Israeli-linked weapons production, though LPP says the Elbit Systems cooperation never materialized. (palestinechronicle.com)
- •Authorities had earlier detained an Egyptian man, a Czech woman, and a U.S. citizen; the fifth suspect was detained Sunday, while investigations continue to seek additional accomplices. (apnews.com)
- •The facility supplied drone tech to Ukraine and was being treated as a terror attack, with authorities also probing potential false‑flag or Russian-linked motives. (apnews.com)
References
Frequently Asked Questions about Czechs detain fifth suspect over arson attack on drone factory
1How many suspects have been detained over the Czech drone factory arson attack?
Five suspects have been detained in connection with the arson attack on the optics and drone factory in the Czech Republic.
2Who claimed responsibility for the Czech drone factory arson?
A previously unknown pro-Palestinian activist group claimed responsibility for the arson attack.
3Were any foreign nationals involved in the Czech drone factory attack?
Yes, an Egyptian man, a Czech woman, and a U.S. citizen were among those detained or charged in relation to the attack.
4What is the link between the targeted company and Israel?
The company, LPP Holding, announced plans to cooperate with Israeli group Elbit Systems in 2023, but those plans were never implemented.
5What is produced at the Czech drone factory targeted in the attack?
The factory produces drones, some of which are exported to Ukraine.
