-c439b7bd9030ecf9d5a4287dc361ba31.jpg "Photo of Katherina Popilnichenko")
A fire broke out at a defense plant in the Czech city of Pardubice. A group calling itself the "Earthquake Fraction" claimed responsibility for the incident.
They stated that their goal is to fight against the Israeli military industry, according to Reuters on March 20.
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Firefighters said 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.
Czech officials are investigating the fire. They currently view the act as a form of sabotage. Authorities are working to determine the full extent of the damage and those involved in the attack.
Even though the group allegedly behind the sabotage claimed to have targeted a company that provides drones to Israel, the firm denied these links, stating that a potential collaboration in drone production never took effect.
LPP Holding, the Czech defense company situated within the complex, clarified that while plans to cooperate with Israel's Elbit Systems were announced in 2023, they were never implemented.
"No Israeli drones have ever been manufactured at our facility," LPP said.
After the fire, police initially said they were investigating whether it was intentional and checking public claims of a "concrete group," without naming it.
Russia’s recent sabotage campaign in Europe, which had previously been viewed as isolated incidents, began raising concerns about a strategic escalation ahead of a possible full-scale war.
Experts believed that the series of attacks—ranging from bomb plots targeting logistics centers to drone incursions—was preparing the ground for broader military actions.
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-72b63a4e0c8c475ad81fe3eed3f63729.jpeg "Photo of Cyril Barabaltchouk")
