Police investigating arson attack in Ostrava as attempted murder

Police officers are now investigating the arson attack on a Romani family in the Bedřiška settlement of Ostrava as attempted murder. The investigation first began as one of reckless endangerment. Police spokesperson Soňa Štětínská informed the Czech Press Agency of the change today.

Reckless endangerment could lead to a sentence of between three to eight years in prison. Attempted murder could result in a sentence of 15 to 20 years in prison, or even extraordinary sentencing.

“The crime has been qualified as attempted murder because one of the possible motives under investigation is that it was racially motivated. However, currently that possibility is being investigated to the same degree as other possibilities,” Štětínská said.

The spokesperson went on to say that it is not yet possible to either confirm or deny any of the possibilities under investigation. Police officers are still working with several potentail motivations for the attack: It could have to do with the victims’ business activity or interpersonal relationships, it could have been racially motivated, or it could even have been a random crime. Štětínská said detectives have not yet received results from experts contributing to the investigation.

Czech Senator Liana Janáčková, who is also mayor of the district, made a statement about the case today, saying that a son of the victimized family had recently returned from England. According to information she has from other citizens living at Bedřiška, during his visit the family’s intention to move to Canada or England was discussed. “They are said to have been in need of proof that they are discriminated against in the Czech Republic,” Janáčková said in the statement, which also points out that the family owes money to the town hall.

According to Janáčková, the family was moved to Bedřiška roughly 10 years ago at the request of the landlords of the building in which they previously lived. The reason for the move is said to have been poor co-existence with their neighbors.

Janáčková previously earned notoriety for controversial statements about the Roma living at Bedřiška. However, she was never tried for her remarks, because the Czech Senate refused to strip her of immunity.

The investigation of the arson attack was taken over on Wednesday by regional police. Regional staff will augment local efforts. The case is being overseen by the Ostrava Region state prosecutor. Brigita Bilíková, who oversaw the investigation of the arson attack on a Romani family in Vítkov, is in charge.

An arson or arsonist attacked the single-family home in the Bedřiška settlement during the early morning hours of Sunday. A Molotov cocktail containing a highly flammable liquid crashed through the window of a room in which a teenage girl was sleeping. The bottle did not break and the chemicals inside it did not catch fire. Part of the carpet caught fire from the wick. The girl was awoken by the breaking glass and managed to put out the fire.

Last April arsonists attacked the home of a Romani family in Vítkov, injuring three people. The most seriously injured was little Natálka, who was not quite two years old at the time. She suffered extensive second and third-degree burns over 80 % of her body.

The trial of the four right-wing extremists from the Bruntál and Opava districts who have been indicted over the Vítkov attack will begin at the Regional Court in Ostrava on 11 May. The men have been charged with racially motivated attempted murder against multiple individuals, one of them a child. They face up to 15 years in prison, but could receive exceptional sentences, including life in prison.