Finance
Police Detain Fourth Suspect After Arson Attack on Czech Defence Factory
Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on March 28, 2026
2 min readLast updated: March 28, 2026
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Czech police have detained a fourth individual suspected in the March 20 arson attack on LPP Holding’s drone and optics factory in Pardubice, and a court has ordered the person held in custody. The newly arrested Czech citizen denies involvement, while the activist group Earthquake Faction claimed t
Czech Police Detain Fourth Suspect after Arson Attack on LPP Defence Factory
Details and Developments in the LPP Factory Arson Case
Overview of the Incident
PRAGUE, March 28 (Reuters) - Czech police have detained a fourth suspect following an arson attack on an optics and drones factory this month and a court has ordered the person be held in custody, police said on X on Saturday.
A previously unknown pro-Palestinian activist group had claimed responsibility for the March 20 attack on the LPP company's factory in Pardubice, east of Prague, which caused millions of dollars in damage.
Suspects and Ongoing Investigation
Details about the Fourth Suspect
Police said the newly detained person held Czech citizenship but did not specify if it was a man or a woman. A search for other suspects continued, police said.
The fourth suspect denied participation in any illegal activity, news agency CTK quoted the judge who ordered the person be held in custody as saying.
Other Detained Individuals
Czech police had earlier detained an Egyptian man and a Czech woman and charged them with terrorism. Another person, a U.S. citizen, had been detained in neighbouring Slovakia in relation to the attack.
Motives and Company Background
Claims of Responsibility
The group that claimed responsibility has said in a statement posted online that the targeted company was developing weapons for Israel.
LPP’s Business Activities
Cooperation with Israeli Firms
LPP Holding announced plans to cooperate with Israeli group Elbit Systems in 2023, but says those plans have not been implemented.
Exports to Ukraine
LPP production includes drones that are exported to Ukraine, which has been fighting Russian forces since Moscow's 2022 full-scale invasion.
Legal Proceedings and Statements
Defense Statements
A lawyer for the detained Egyptian said in a statement on Saturday released through Czech news website www.denikreferendum.cz that the suspect, whom he identified only as M, stated that he had an alibi for the time of the attack.
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.
(Reporting by Jan LopatkaEditing by Keith Weir)
Key Takeaways
- •This marks the fourth arrest in the investigation into the suspected terrorism-linked arson at the LPP Holding factory, previously involving an Egyptian man, a Czech woman, and a U.S. citizen detained in Slovakia.
- •The pro‑Palestinian activist group Earthquake Faction has claimed responsibility, alleging the targeted factory was producing weapons for Israel, while LPP had announced but not implemented a partnership with Israel’s Elbit Systems.
- •LPP Holding’s drones, notably the AI‑driven MTS suicide drones resistant to electronic warfare, have been deployed in Ukraine; the arson caused significant damage but no injuries.
Frequently Asked Questions about Police detain fourth suspect after arson attack on Czech defence factory
1Who has been detained following the Czech defence factory arson attack?
Czech police have detained four suspects, including a Czech citizen, an Egyptian man, a Czech woman, and a U.S. citizen related to the attack.
2Which company was targeted in the Pardubice arson attack?
The attack targeted the LPP company's optics and drones factory in Pardubice, east of Prague.
3Who claimed responsibility for the attack on the defence factory?
A previously unknown pro-Palestinian activist group claimed responsibility for the arson attack.
4What were the consequences of the arson attack on the LPP factory?
The attack caused millions of dollars in damage, led to multiple detentions, and ongoing investigation for other suspects.
5Was there evidence of the LPP company's collaboration with Israeli firms?
LPP announced plans to cooperate with Israeli group Elbit Systems in 2023, but stated those plans have not been implemented.
