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From cyberattacks to arson, police are currently facing a wide range of offensive operations against Czechia. While these attacks are not specifically aimed at individuals, they are designed to destabilize society and disrupt daily functioning. How is the country responding to new threats?
Deputy Director of the National Centre Against Terrorism, Extremism, and Cybercrime, Jiří Nový, recently addressed concerns about increasing offensive operations targeting Czechia.
Speaking Monday at the Senate during the conference Russian Aggression Against Europe: After Three Years of Ukraine's Defense of Freedom, Nový said: "From my perspective, we are at war."
He emphasized that the Czech state is facing not only cyberattacks but also waves of disinformation and a long-term campaign questioning the state’s ability to uphold its fundamental values. "The adversary does not distinguish between targets and attacks anything," Nový said.
Czechia's new terrorist threat system
- In February, the Czech government approved a new system for assessing terrorism threats in Czechia.
- The new system includes four levels, ranging from low to critical threat.
- The second level, representing a moderate threat, will remain in effect until the end of 2025.
Western intelligence warns of new attacks
Nový recalled the arson attack on buses at the Prague Transport Company garage in the city's Klíčov district. He noted that this attack was just one in a series of similar incidents across Poland and the Baltic countries, with a similar execution method. These incidents often involve recruiting individuals from vulnerable social groups and the unemployed.
"Intelligence services in Western Europe have recently warned that we are on the verge of a new wave of attacks," Nový said. He cautioned that sabotage could involve couriers carrying explosive devices to targets in public locations.
Critical infrastructure, technology vulnerable
The police official also highlighted that Czech society is home to sensitive technologies and critical infrastructure, such as gas stations and pipelines, which are vulnerable to disruptions. Nový explained that the goal of these operations is to induce fear among the population, weaken confidence in the rule of law, and undermine support for Ukraine.
In addition, Nový pointed out that some political forces in the Czech Republic are actively promoting Russian views and spreading them through the media. The situation has escalated to the point where certain groups have formed paramilitary militias, which have been visible at demonstrations and during visits from Russian bikers.
"People who openly support Russia may also become targets of attacks," Nový warned, adding that these actions are part of the Russian narrative that portrays its opponents as oppressors.
Measures being taken to improve national security
Nový stressed the need for a more effective domestic defense strategy. He noted that the legal framework for criminal proceedings in the Czech Republic was established in 1961 and has remained largely unchanged. "We are one of the few countries that has not adopted anti-terrorism legislation," he said. "This is something we need to address to improve internal security."
The Czech Parliament recently passed a law introducing a new offense of unauthorized activity for a foreign power in the Criminal Code. The penalty for this crime is up to five years in prison, or up to 15 years in a time of war.
Nový also called for greater collaboration between intelligence services and the police to improve national security. He believes that enhanced information-sharing would help law enforcement better protect the country.
