In Prague the One World Film Festival was interrupted after an anonymous message warned of an explosion at the Lucerne Palace. The warning prompted a full evacuation of the venue in the city center, with roughly two thousand people forced to leave as security teams swept the site and nearby facilities. Staff evacuated attendees and coordinated with police as alarms sounded and crowds moved to safety. The disruption paused performances and underscored the heightened caution surrounding major cultural events across Europe.
At the same time the graduation ball taking place in the palace was halted and attendees were guided out by staff and security personnel. The abrupt stoppage created a moment of disruption for many families and guests who had traveled into the city for the celebration. The incident illustrated how security concerns can ripple through a city during a high-profile event, affecting both participants and spectators while authorities review the threat and plan for ongoing safety measures.
Separately, information was received about the potential mining of Prague’s Smíchov railway station. Explosives teams conducted a careful search of platforms, tracks, and adjacent facilities, but no device was found. Trains and passenger movements in the area were temporarily affected as investigators followed up on the alert. The precautionary checks were carried out with steady coordination among police, railway security, and emergency responders to minimize danger and maintain public trust.
Authorities are actively pursuing leads and coordinating with security agencies at national and regional levels to identify those responsible for the threat. Investigators are examining data from surveillance systems, reviewing call records, and interviewing witnesses to establish the origin of the alert and determine whether it was connected to other recent security incidents. The objective is to prevent further harm and restore normal operations as quickly as possible.
Earlier in January, the German city of Passau on the Austrian border faced a separate scare when a bomb threat prompted the temporary closure of the station and the evacuation of passengers on a long-distance service. An anonymous call claimed that explosives were placed on a high-speed train. Police, aided by sniffer dogs, conducted searches of the train and station but found no devices. The disruption interrupted rail traffic between Nuremberg and Vienna, highlighting how such threats can disrupt cross-border travel and require swift, coordinated responses from multiple agencies.
In Austria, an earlier alert reported that Graz’s main station was mined, prompting immediate security actions and heightened checks across the rail network. These events collectively reveal a pattern of alert-driven responses at major transit hubs and public venues across Central Europe, underscoring the need for continuous vigilance and rapid communication among authorities. For travelers from Canada and the United States who plan trips to this region, such incidents emphasize the importance of staying informed through official advisories, following instructions from local authorities, and allowing extra time for security checks during trips.