Czech news in brief for September 25: Thursday's top headlines

Czech police have arrested seven foreign nationals suspected of murdering an elderly man in outer Prague in August, police director Aleš Strach said Thursday. The group is linked to multiple crimes, including at least one abroad, and authorities have informed neighboring countries. They allegedly targeted seniors with cheap home repair offers, then demanded extra money or used violence. Authorities identified a primary suspect within 24 hours, relying on forensic analyses and expert cooperation from multiple law enforcement branches.

Ukrainian refugees in Czechia contributed CZK 15 billion in taxes and social insurance in the first half of 2025, almost twice the CZK 7.6 billion spent by the state on aid, Labor Ministry data showed Thursday. Revenues began exceeding expenditures in Q3 2023. Around 169,000 refugees with temporary protection are employed in the country, Labor Minister Marian Jurečka said. Aid includes housing, healthcare, education, and humanitarian benefits. The opposition ANO party has said it wants to cut benefits to Ukrainians, while the coalition wants to maintain support overall.

The first snowfall of the season hit Czech mountain peaks during a cold snap, the Hydrometeorological Institute said Thursday. Snow fell overnight on Praděd and continued on Sněžka, where temperatures dropped to minus 1.2 degrees Celsius, with wind chills near minus 9. Nighttime lows across the country ranged from minus 11 to minus 6. Freezing fog may appear in higher altitudes, and a strong wind warning remains in effect for the northeast. No snow is expected in Prague until the end of November. Last night was the coldest recorded night in Czechia, on average, since around April.

A magnitude 2.8 earthquake struck near Nový Kostel early Monday, waking residents in the Cheb region of Karlovy Vary, the Czech Academy of Sciences said. A weaker tremor of 2.3 followed one minute later, both at a depth of 10 kilometers. Earthquake swarms often occur in western Bohemia, but rarely cause surface damage. Similar tremors were recorded in March and April, the strongest also at 2.8. Locals reported hearing a loud bang with the shaking. The Cheb area historically records relatively frequent tremors. No public danger is ever expected.

One in four Czech households used nonprofit leisure activities last year, while three-fifths of respondents praised NGO contributions in crises, according to an OSF Foundation and STEM survey released this week. Charitable, social, humanitarian, education, cultural and sports groups were rated most useful, while political groups drew some skepticism and unease, reflecting a nuanced public perception that varies significantly across different demographics and regions. Czechia has 115,000 civil society organizations, with approximately 74,000 employees.

Kyiv has received up to 3.5 million large-calibre rounds under the Czech Ammunition Initiative, Czech President Petr Pavel said Wednesday at Harvard. He highlighted Czechia’s swift aid to Ukraine after the 2022 invasion, including heavy weapons and support for over 400,000 refugees. The initiative sources artillery ammunition from outside the EU. Last year, 1.5 million pieces were delivered. Pavel emphasized continued backing against Russian aggression and enforcement of sanctions.

Prague’s court denied a request to order SPD to remove election billboards showing a woman in a Muslim burqa alongside the party logo, though it called the images potentially discriminatory. Judge Ondrej Smat said interim measures protect personal rights, not public interest, and permanent removal would halt the campaign. The lawsuit, filed to defend Muslim rights, will proceed after October elections. Lawyer Leonid Kushnarenko plans an appeal, citing racism and populism.

Police in Prague have charged three security guards, aged 19 to 21, with assaulting homeless people in at least eight cases. Incidents involved beating, kicking, and cutting victims with batons and scissors, police said. The main suspect is in custody. The assaults were revealed after a foreigner reported an attack, prompting investigation and discovery of videos showing repeated abuse. Convictions could carry up to eight years in prison.

Strong winds swept northern Bohemia and Moravia Wednesday, toppling trees, damaging roofs, and disrupting traffic, authorities said. Firefighters responded to over 100 incidents by afternoon, particularly in Hradec Králové and Olomouc regions. Roofs were temporarily secured and trees removed from roads and railways. Meteorologists issued continued wind warnings through Thursday. Officials warned of ongoing hazards as firefighters managed fallen trees and debris across affected towns and transportation lines.

Czech teachers will receive a seven percent pay raise from January, following an agreement between school unions and Education Minister Mikuláš Bek. Lower-qualified staff, including assistants, will get a flat increase of 2,000 crowns. The adjustment applies to kindergarten, primary, and secondary teachers in the eighth salary grade and above, while lower grades receive the fixed amount. The move is part of broader public sector negotiations over wage growth and budget allocations.