Czech court sentences Colombian to eight years in prison for Russia-linked arson attack

A court in Prague has sentenced a Colombian citizen to eight years in prison on Monday for conducting an arson attack and planning another one, in a case which authorities believe may be linked to the Kremlin.

A court in the Czech Republic on Monday sentenced a Colombian national to eight years in prison for plotting an arson attack on public transport in Prague, which officials believe was in part orchestrated by Russia.

Andrés Alfonso de la Hoz de la Cruz, who pleaded guilty, was also ordered to pay damages worth 115,000 Czech koruna (€4,639).

The 26-year-old was arrested a year ago after setting three public buses ablaze at a public transport depot in Prague’s Klicov district. He recorded the incident and fled the scene as local workers brought the fire under control.

At the time, a spokeswoman for Prague’s public transport authority said the fires caused at least 200,000 koruna (€8,067) in damages.

Read more: Euronews