(9 Jun 2025)
RESTRICTION SUMMARY:
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Prague, Czech Republic – 9 June 2025
1. Defendant being escorted into courtroom
2. Defense counsel reading speech
3. Judge introducing case
4. Close of judge’s hands
5. Various of defendant communicating with defense counsel through a translator
6. Close of the Czech national symbol on guard’s shirt
7. Defendant being released from handcuffs
8. SOUNDBITE (Czech) Daniella Sarah Sotolarova, judge:
"(The defendant is sentenced) under section 311(3) of the Criminal Code, applying section 43(1) of the Criminal Code and section 58(3) of the Criminal Code, to a total term of imprisonment of eight years."
9. Close of defendant’s face
STORYLINE:
A court in the Czech capital sentenced a Colombian national to eight years in prison on Monday for an arson attack and planning another one, in a case which authorities believe may be linked to Russia.
Prague’s Municipal Court also ordered Andrés Alfonso de la Hoz de la Cruz to pay damages worth 115,000 koruna ($5,300).
The court approved a plea agreement between prosecutors and the defendant, who pleaded guilty.
The 26-year-old Colombian was arrested a year ago after setting ablaze three Prague public buses at a depot at night. The court said that he recorded what he did and left.
Local workers managed to extinguish the fire.
The court said the man received orders on the Telegram messaging app and was promised $3,000. He was also planning one more attack, possibly at a movie theater in Prague.
Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala previously said the failed arson attack was likely part of Russia’s hybrid war against his country.
Czechia, which is more widely known in English as the Czech Republic, is a staunch supporter of Ukraine in its fight against Russia’s full scale-invasion.
Western officials have accused Russia and its proxies of staging dozens of attacks and other incidents across Europe since Moscow launched all-out war on Ukraine on Feb. 24, 2022, according to data collected by The Associated Press.
They allege the disruption campaign is an extension of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s war, intended to sow division in European societies and undermine support for Ukraine.
===========================================================
Clients are reminded to adhere to all listed restrictions and to check the terms of their licence agreements. For further assistance, please contact the AP Archive on: Tel +44(0)2074827482 Email: info@aparchive.com.
Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork
Twitter: https://twitter.com/AP_Archive
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/APArchives
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/APNews/
You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/youtube/7d911591b566410d9f159061b79fab08
Author: AP Archive
Go to Source
News post in June 14, 2025, 3:05 pm.
Visit Our Sponsor’s:
News Post In – News
