Terrorist Arson Network Operating in Europe Brought to Justice
A terrorist group suspected of carrying out coordinated arson attacks across the European Union on behalf of a foreign intelligence service has been brought before national courts following a joint investigation coordinated by Eurojust. The group targeted commercial, transport and industrial facilities in the Czech Republic, Lithuania, Poland and Romania.
The joint investigation team, initiated by Romania and supported by Eurojust, established links between attempted and completed attacks in the four countries. Two suspects have already been convicted following trials in Romania and the Czech Republic, while proceedings against six suspects in Lithuania are expected to begin later this year.
Investigations revealed a common modus operandi and shared organisers. In Romania, a suspect was arrested in July 2024 while conducting reconnaissance of potential arson targets. In the Czech Republic, a suspect set fire to buses in Prague and scouted additional locations for further attacks. In Lithuania, suspects targeted a factory supplying materials to the Armed Forces of Ukraine, with one attempted attack aborted and a second causing no damage due to insufficient flammable materials.
Polish investigations uncovered related subversive activities by a Colombian national who carried out arson attacks on construction depots in Warsaw and Radom before committing similar acts in the Czech Republic. Footage of these incidents was later disseminated by Russian-language online media as disinformation, falsely portraying the attacks as sabotage against NATO infrastructure. Proceedings in Poland remain ongoing.
Coordination meetings at Eurojust enabled the exchange of evidence, aligned prosecutions and prevented breaches of the ne bis in idem principle, while Europol provided operational support.
Sentences already imposed include six years’ imprisonment in Romania for sabotage and eight years’ imprisonment in the Czech Republic, along with expulsion and compensation orders. In Lithuania, a criminal case against six suspects for participation in a terrorist organisation has been referred to the Šiauliai Regional Court.
