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Orbán orders heightened protection for Hungary’s defence factories after Czech “terror attack”
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has announced increased protection for defence industry facilities across Hungary following what the government has described as a terrorist attack in the Czech Republic.
In a video message shared on social media, Orbán said that security had already been reinforced at energy infrastructure sites earlier this year, and similar measures are now being extended to military-industrial facilities.
“After energy infrastructure, we have also had to strengthen protection at defence industrial plants,” he said, adding that consultations with national security leaders took place overnight.
Fire in Pardubice labelled as terrorism
The move comes after a fire broke out at a defence-related warehouse in Pardubice on Friday. Czech authorities are treating the incident as a deliberate act, with significant material damage reported but no injuries.
Orbán said Hungary’s government has classified the group claiming responsibility as a terrorist organisation. Orbán stated that any member of the group entering Hungary would be immediately detained.
The attack was reportedly claimed by a previously unknown international group calling itself the Earthquake Faction. According to Czech media reports, the group said it targeted the facility to disrupt support for Israel’s military operations in Gaza.
The warehouse was linked to a joint operation involving the Israeli defence firm Elbit Systems and a local partner, although the companies later clarified that no joint project was underway at the specific site.
Rising concerns over international spillover
Orbán suggested the incident is part of a larger trend, arguing that the ongoing conflict in the Middle East has led to the emergence of terrorism in regions where it had not previously been expected.
According to Telex, Hungary had already raised its terror alert level earlier in response to the war, and the prime minister confirmed that this heightened state of readiness will remain in place.
Authorities have deployed additional police patrols and security assets around critical infrastructure, including power plants, distribution stations and control centres. Military personnel have also been involved in safeguarding key sites.
Political and regional implications
Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babiš described the fire as a “very serious incident” and expressed concern over its implications. He subsequently cancelled his planned appearance at the CPAC Hungary conference in Budapest.
Meanwhile, Czech officials have stated that, despite the severity of the incident, there is currently no indication of an immediate further threat.
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Russia has been involved in sabotage and arson attacks in Europe for many years. Russia at the same time has allied itself with Iran. Iran supplied many hundreds of drones to Russia and eventually sold the technology for their production in Russia. Russia in turn is know to have supplied intelligence to Iran including targeting information to hit US interests in the Middle East. At this time there likely will be cooperation between those states to conduct terrrorist attacks inside Europe to cause maximum disruption. Iran has now threatened terrorist attacks of civilian targets in Europe. Keep this mind while considering that in Feb 2024 Szijjarto visited Iran pledging “mutual respect” for that terrorist regime.