Czech and Slovak law enforcement officials have taken three people into custody in connection with an arson attack on a defence manufacturer's premises in Pardubice, eastern Czech Republic. Authorities said the detainees include citizens of the United States and the Czech Republic.
According to a statement posted on X by Czech police on Tuesday, two of the suspects were detained inside the Czech Republic and one was arrested in Slovakia. The police said they are continuing extensive efforts to locate additional suspects and are cooperating with foreign partners as part of the probe.
"We continue to work intensively to apprehend the remaining suspects, also in cooperation with foreign partners," the police said.
The fire affected a building used by LPP Holding at an industrial complex in Pardubice, about 120 km east of Prague. LPP, a Czech defence group, had previously announced plans in 2023 to cooperate with Israeli company Elbit Systems, but the company says those plans have not been implemented.
LPP's production portfolio includes drones that are exported to Ukraine. The company has noted that those exports occur against the backdrop of Ukraine's ongoing fight with Russian forces since Moscow's 2022 invasion.
Authorities are exploring several possible motives and links. LPP said police were examining a potential connection to Russia in the arson attack. While police have not publicly confirmed a Russia link, they have said investigators are considering different scenarios as they proceed.
Russia has previously denied allegations that it has carried out hybrid attacks in European Union countries, the police noted as part of the context officials are weighing.
The group that claimed responsibility for the Friday fire posted a statement on its website on Tuesday asserting it had seized "restricted documents." The group said it would publish those materials unless LPP cut ties with Elbit Systems and "denounce the barbaric occupation of Palestine."
The claim followed broader tensions linked to events in the Middle East. Israel launched a military offensive against Hamas in the Gaza Strip after the Palestinian militant group carried out attacks inside Israel in October 2023, a sequence of events cited in the public statements surrounding the incident.
Investigations are ongoing. Police statements indicate active cooperation across borders and continuing efforts to identify and detain any additional individuals connected to the attack. Officials have not released further details on the suspects' identities or the precise circumstances of how the fire was started.