Pardubice Arms Plant Arson Investigated as Terrorism; Anti-Israel Group Claims Responsibility for Strike on Ukraine Drone Maker

Czech authorities are investigating the March 20 arson at LPP Holding's Pardubice warehouse as a terrorism case. A group calling itself The Earthquake Faction claimed responsibility, asserting it targeted 'a key Israeli weapons manufacturing facility.' LPP Holding denied any Israeli production at the site, stating plans to cooperate with Elbit Systems on drone manufacturing were never realized. The facility produces unmanned systems and avionics supplied to Ukraine. CTK confirmed the fire affected a warehouse used by a manufacturer of thermal imagers for the Ukrainian armed forces. Damage is estimated in the hundreds of millions of Czech crowns. The Czech Security Council convened.