Czech Republic: Unknown arsonist attacks Romani-occupied building in Smržovka

This morning an unidentified arsonist set fire to an apartment building in Smržovka (Jablonec district) which is occupied by several Romani families. Police are investigating the case.

Firefighters learned of the blaze at the privately-owned building, which houses three families, at 4:39 AM. The attic caught fire and the roof was damaged. The blaze was brought under control at 5:30 AM and was put out completely by 6:30 AM. According to news server iDNES.cz, no one suffered physical injury. The damage to the building is estimated at CZK 200 000. Firefighters from Horní Tanvald, Jablonec nad Nisou, and Tanvald responded to the blaze, as did two units from Smržovka.

The investigation conducted afterward has confirmed the suspicion that the fire was intentionally set. “The expert ruled out a flaw in the electrical wiring. The blaze also did not start from the chimney. The attic was locked. It caught fire at two places simultaneously,” said Zdenka Štrauchová, press spokesperson for the Liberec Regional Emergency Firefighter Brigade.

Firefighters don’t yet know what sort of material the arsonist used to set the attic on fire. “A professional expert analysis will let us know,” Štrauchová said. Police detectives have taken up the case. Jablonec Police spokesperson Ludmila Knopová said a police investigator is still at the crime scene.

According to Mayor Marek Hotovec, there are no indications yet that this was a racially motivated attack. He said neighbors had never complained about the building residents. “There haven’t been any excesses here. No one has ever asked us for substitute accommodation,” the mayor said.