Suspect admits throwing petrol bombs at Russian culture center in Prague

A foreign national has surrendered to Czech authorities, admitting to throwing petrol bombs at a Russian culture center in Prague, causing damage to the building’s facade. The attack, planned since summer 2025, raises concerns about safety near diplomatic sites.

Reuters

31 March 2026 at 11:21:53

A handout image released on March 27, 2026 shows the facade of the Russian cultural centre after an unknown attacker threw several Molotov cocktails at the building in Prague, Czech Republic.

Czech Police/Reuters

A foreign national has turned himself in to Czech police, admitting that he threw petrol bombs at the building of a Russian culture centre in Prague last week, police said on Tuesday.

Police did not further identify the suspect detained on Monday.

"It is a foreigner who, according to his own words, had planned the act and was preparing for it since summer 2025," police said on X.

An attacker threw several petrol bombs at the building last Thursday night.

Pictures released by the police showed a charred facade of the building in the Prague 6 district that is home to many diplomatic missions, including the Russian one.

The Russian embassy said last week that an attacker or attackers threw six bottles filled with flammable liquid, three of which damaged the facade.

-Reporting by Jan Lopatka;Editing by Alison Williams/Reuters