Czech Organized Crime Detection Unit investigates Aš arson as part of ultra-right raid

Police officers with the Organized Crime Detection Unit (Útvar pro odhalování organizovaného zločinu – ÚOOZ) began conducting a raid against neo-Nazis this morning at many different points around the Czech Republic. ÚOOZ spokesperson Pavel Hanták told the Czech Press Agency that police have discovered clues related to the identity of the arsonists in the recent attack on a residential hotel in the town of Aš which includes Romani tenants.

“I can confirm that today we initiated action on two separate cases. One raid concerns human trafficking, the other the ultra-right,” Hanták told news server iDNES.cz.

Hanták is refusing to comment on the details of the intervention for the time being. However, he did say it was the culmination of several months of work by the detectives. He said the ÚOOZ would be publicizing arrests and charges within the next few days at the very earliest. “The implementation began this morning, the operations are rather extensive. We presume we will be able to release more detailed information, including on arrested or charged persons, at the start of next week at the very earliest,” Hanták said. He also confirmed that police officers have gathered clues and information related to the Molotov cocktail attack on the residential hotel in Aš at the end of February. “As part of the action on the case aimed at the extremist scene, we also got information during our investigation that points to the arson attack in Aš,” he said.

Two masked, unidentified men threw at least three Molotov cocktails at the residential hotel, which is occupied by two Romani families and other people. One bottle struck the window of one of the apartments, another the main door, and a third the window of the common room. The residents put out the fire themselves. No one was physically injured.