Czech police arrested a fourth suspect in the 20 March arson attack on a defense factory in Pardubice that produced drones and thermal imaging equipment for Ukraine, DW reported. Czech investigators are probing whether the anti-Israeli cover story used by the previously unknown group that claimed the attack was a front for a Russian operation targeting Ukrainian defense production.
Fourth arrest, more expected
Czech police announced on 28 March that counterterrorism investigators detained a Czech citizen in connection with the Pardubice arson. A court ordered the suspect held in custody at the prosecution's request. Police said the search for remaining accomplices is ongoing.
On 24 March, a court in Pardubice remanded two other suspects — a man and a woman. A third suspect was detained in Slovakia, and Czechia is seeking extradition. All three earlier detained suspects have faced charges of committing a terrorist attack and participating in a terrorist group.
Fake anti-Israel framing
A previously unknown group calling itself the Earthquake Faction claimed responsibility for the arson, saying it targeted the facility over its alleged cooperation with Israeli defense company Elbit Systems. The investigation revealed that the group's social media accounts were created just one day before the attack.
US and Czech citizens placed in pretrial detention over arson at plant supplying Ukraine — Czech intelligence asks if Russia used pro-Palestinian group as cover
LPP Holding denied any Israeli connection. A planned cooperation with Elbit Systems announced several years ago never moved forward after the Czech Defense Ministry canceled the relevant procurement tender. No Israeli drones were ever produced at the plant, according to the company. The factory's actual work involved manufacturing drones and thermal imaging optics for Ukraine's armed forces through its joint venture Archer.
Czech authorities are now investigating a possible Russian trail behind the attack, treating the anti-Israeli framing as a potential false flag.
Czech defense firms tighten security after suspected arson at drone plant supplying Ukraine
Damage to Ukrainian defense production
The fire on 20 March destroyed nearly all of Archer's production capacity, including finished thermal imaging sights and equipment in active manufacture. LPP Holding estimated the damage at hundreds of millions of Czech crowns. Archer CEO Oleksandr Yaremenko said the sabotage would not stop the company's work and vowed all contractual obligations would be fulfilled.
LPP Holding is also the company behind the Czech "Gift for Putin" initiative, which raises funds for MTS 40 strike drones for Ukraine. The company had also been preparing to launch serial production of the Narwhal cruise missile — capable of striking targets at ranges up to 680 km — at its Pardubice facility.
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