Czech police and defense company LPP, which produces drones for Ukraine, are investigating a fire at a factory in Pardubice for possible links to Russian interests, Reuters reported, citing a statement from LPP on Monday, BTA reported.
Law enforcement authorities are treating the case as a deliberate attack after Czech media received emails from an organization protesting against the production of weapons for Israel, which claimed responsibility for the fire.
The flames that broke out on Friday damaged production facilities and warehouse goods, but did not prevent a planned delivery of 40 attack drones to Ukraine, said LPP, whose plant is located 120 km east of Prague.
"Although an anti-Israeli organization has claimed responsibility for the attack, we, together with the police, are also investigating other possible motives, including a possible Russian connection," the company said, confirming information previously reported by the Czech news site "Odkryto".
LPP said it does not manufacture equipment for Israel and has no cooperation with the Israeli defense company "Elbit Systems". The company said that such intentions were indeed announced in 2023, but added that they never materialized.
The Czech daily "Mlada Fronta Dnes" cites sources who say that according to initial reports, it was the LPP's drone production for Ukraine that was the real target of the attack, which was disguised as an anti-Israeli act.
The police said they were investigating various versions, but declined to comment on a possible Russian connection.
Russia, which invaded Ukraine in 2022, regularly denies accusations that it is carrying out hybrid attacks in EU countries, describing them as baseless and fueled by Russophobia, Reuters notes.