Two more detained over arson attack on Czech defence factory

PRAGUE, April 4 (Reuters) - Authorities detained two more people in connection with the arson attack on a Czech optics and drone factory last month, Czech police and a public prosecutor's office said on Saturday. A previously unknown pro-Palestinian activist group has claimed responsibility for the March 20 fire at an industrial complex in Pardubice, about 120 km (75 miles) east ⁠of Prague. Czech authorities have previously announced five detentions, including of an Egyptian and a U.S. citizen, since the fire that targeted a building used by Czech defence group LPP Holding. Polish prosecutors said on Wednesday that two Polish citizens were also detained in connection with the case. Czech police and prosecutors said another person was detained on Saturday. A ⁠further individual was also detained in Bulgaria on Friday and police said their extradition will be requested. Both were foreign nationals, Czech authorities said. The group that claimed responsibility for the ⁠attack has said in a statement online that the targeted company was developing weapons for Israel. LPP Holding announced plans ⁠to cooperate with Israeli group Elbit Systems (ESLT.TA), opens new tab in 2023, but says those plans were never implemented. LPP's production ⁠includes drones that are exported to Ukraine, which has been fighting Russian forces since Moscow's 2022 full-scale invasion. Reporting by Jason Hovet in Prague; Editing by Matthew Lewis Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles., opens new tab