Czech news in brief for January 21: Wednesday's top afternoon headlines

Czech opposition parties said on Tuesday they support Denmark and Greenland’s right to self-determination, criticizing the government for failing to take a clear stance amid U.S. pressure over Greenland. Leaders from five opposition parties said Prime Minister Andrej Babiš has been indecisive and that they are stepping in to defend NATO allies. They plan to deliver a joint statement to Denmark’s ambassador, calling any challenge to Danish sovereignty unacceptable under international law.

First Lady Eva Pavlová called for greater unity and mutual respect in Czech society on Tuesday, urging people to treat one another better and to reduce hateful behavior, particularly on social media. Speaking in Prague, she presented a new project offering free legal assistance to single parents who cannot afford legal services. The initiative, supported by her endowment fund and two nonprofits, focuses on child care and child support arrangements.

Police recorded 170,051 crimes in Czechia last year, a year-on-year drop of 1.9 percent, Police President Martin Vondrášek said on Friday. Murders declined, while sexual crimes rose by nearly nine percent, and violent crime slightly increased. Police also logged 269 high-risk incidents in schools, including threats and weapons cases. Overall, crime has fallen slightly for three consecutive years, with around 56 percent of cases solved.

Prague today carried out load tests on the nearly completed Dvorecký Bridge linking Prague 4 and Prague 5, using heavy trucks to measure structural movement. City officials said the bridge remains on track to open in April. Construction began in 2022 and is expected to cost about CZK 1.5 billion excluding VAT. The bridge will serve trams, buses, cyclists, and pedestrians, easing public transport connections across the Vltava.

Police searching the apartment of the gunman who carried out Monday’s shooting in Chřibská, in the Děčín region, found two additional firearms and ammunition. The attacker had four weapons during the assault, killing a municipal office employee and injuring six others, including three police officers. Investigators say the motive was personal and directed at a specific official. The case is being investigated as murder and illegal armament.