A case dating back to January 2024, in which two young men attempted to set fire to a synagogue in Brno, is now heading to court. The prosecutor has charged one of the accused with, among other offences, attempted terrorist attack. The alleged act was committed while he was a minor, alongside another underage individual who cannot be held criminally responsible due to their age.
The prosecution also accuses the man of additional crimes, including attempted murder. He is currently in custody and faces a potential sentence of up to twelve years in prison, according to Radek Bartoš, Deputy Chief Public Prosecutor at the High Public Prosecutor’s Office in Olomouc.
“In the event of a conviction, the accused faces a custodial sentence ranging from three to twelve years. This would be a combined sentence covering all the offences currently charged as well as prior offences for which he was previously convicted as a juvenile,” Bartoš stated.
According to police, the two young men attempted to set fire to the Brno synagogue using an improvised device. The case came to light during an investigation into a group spreading hateful content on social media and promoting terrorist organisations, including the Islamic State, whose ideology inspired the attackers.
The matter will be heard by the Regional Court in Brno. The prosecutor has also charged the man with attempted murder from March 2024. Preliminary proceedings suggest that this act constitutes so-called “experiential violence,” in which the accused allegedly sought to experience the sensation of killing another person. This act was also allegedly committed with the underage individual, who cannot be held criminally responsible.
“For this purpose, they reportedly selected a physically weaker person living on the margins of society, whom they intended to lure to a secluded location and intoxicate with alcohol. The accused was then alleged to have attacked the victim with multiple kicks and blows, only ceasing when the victim appeared to be dead, after which they left the scene. The victim survived, regained consciousness after some time, and sought help,” Bartoš explained.
In connection with the attempted murder, the prosecution also accuses the man of extortion, as he allegedly threatened a witness with violence if they assisted the victim or reported the crime to the police.
As an adult, the accused is further charged with disseminating harmful content online, specifically promoting Islamic terrorist organisations and inciting antisemitism between 2023 and 2025. The prosecutor considers this a particularly serious crime of supporting and promoting terrorism and inciting hatred against a group of people or restricting their rights and freedoms.
