ISTANBUL
Czech police said on Friday that an unknown attacker threw several Molotov cocktails at a Russian cultural center in Prague the previous evening.
A statement by the country’s law enforcement agency on US social media company X said that it has been investigating the incident, which took place in the Prague 6 district of the Czech capital, since Thursday evening.
“We are searching for the perpetrator, who is suspected of the criminal offense of damaging foreign property,” it said.
Meanwhile, the Russian Embassy in Prague said the incident took place at approximately 10.30 pm local time (2130GMT), noting that about six Molotov cocktails were thrown, of which three exploded outside the building, damaging its facade.
The embassy said it will send a corresponding note to the Czech Foreign Ministry, reiterating the need to strengthen security measures for Russian properties and employees of its diplomatic mission in the country.
“We regard this incident as an unprecedented act of violence that has posed a threat to the lives and health of employees of Russia’s diplomatic mission. We will insist on a thorough investigation, punishment of those responsible, compensation for damages, and the prevention of similar incidents in the future,” it added.
Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova later announced that the Czech ambassador in Moscow had been summoned, saying the envoy had been given a “strong protest” over the incident.