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PRAGUE – Authorities in the Czech Republic announced on Tuesday the arrest of three individuals following a devastating fire that engulfed a warehouse belonging to a company that supplies autonomous drones to Ukraine.
Investigators are treating the incident as a potential arson attack with ties to terrorism, according to police statements.
While two suspects were apprehended within the Czech Republic, the third was captured in Slovakia. Czech officials are currently working to secure the extradition of the suspect from Slovakia.
All three individuals are facing serious charges, including carrying out a terrorist attack and involvement in a terrorist organization.
The suspects are reported to be of Czech and American nationality, though further details have not been disclosed by the police at this time.
“We continue to work intensively to apprehend the remaining suspects, also in cooperation with foreign partners,” they said.
The fire broke out in an industrial zone in the city of Pardubice, some 100 kilometers (60 miles) east of Prague, destroying the warehouse building but causing no injuries, police said.
LPP Holding confirmed a fire in one of its buildings and said it was cooperating with the investigation.
The company develops and makes products for civilian and military use, such as drone autonomous technologies used by Ukraine’s armed forces in the fight against the Russian invasion.
Interior Minister Lubomír Metnar said the incident may be related to a terrorist attack and the Czech side was sharing details of the investigation with its foreign partners
Top police officer Martin Vondrášek said police assumed the fire was arson. The blaze was extinguished by firefighters, and police said there was no danger to the public.
LPP Holding had previously said it was planning to open a center in Pardubice to develop and produce drones and train personnel in cooperation with Israeli Elbit Systems, a military technology company. However, after the attack it said the joint venture never came to fruition.
Arms manufacturers across the country have since boosted security measures.
LPP Holding said no arms were produced in the building that was attacked.
Unlike the previous pro-Western government, the new Czech government led by populist billionaire Andrej Babiš has rejected any financial aid for Ukraine and guarantees for European Union loans to the country fighting Russia’s invasion. The Czechs join the ranks of Viktor Orbán of Hungary and Robert Fico of Slovakia, who have led the opposition to EU backing for Ukraine.
However, popular support for Ukraine remains high.
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