CHAOS IN PRAGUE: Main Railway Station Evacuated After Bomb Threat Paralyzes Morning Rush
Tens of thousands of morning commuters faced severe disruptions today as Czech police evacuated Prague’s Main Railway Station (Hlavní nádraží) following an anonymous bomb threat.
The heart of the Czech railway network was brought to a complete standstill on Tuesday morning.
The emergency operation began at the worst possible time – shortly before 8 a.m., at the peak of the Tuesday morning rush hour.
- Just before 7:45 a.m.: Prague transport company (DPP) reports Metro Line C trains will bypass the Main Station stop.
- Around 8:00 a.m.: Police announce on social network X: «Due to an anonymous threat to place an explosive device, Prague Main Station is being evacuated. Metro trains will only pass through the station and a bomb disposal specialist is heading to the scene.»
- By 8:20 a.m.: Martin Kavka, spokesperson for the Railway Administration (Správa železnic), confirms all train operations are officially halted. The country’s busiest transit hub is completely closed.
All train traffic – long-distance, regional, and international connections – was suspended. Commuters were left stranded on platforms, in underpasses, and on approaching trains that were suddenly diverted.
DPP quickly warned that the disruption was cascading into the city’s entire transit network, with tram and metro connections overwhelmed by displaced passengers.
Not the First Time
For regular Prague travelers, the scene felt painfully familiar. Security evacuations are a recurring issue for Prague’s transit network.
Similar anonymous threats temporarily closed the main station in 2016, 2019, and 2021. In each of those prior instances, police successfully tracked down the suspects within days thanks to digital traces.
Police are now sweeping the entire historic Art Nouveau building and its sprawling platform areas with specialized dogs and pyrotechnicians. The search remains ongoing.
Officials have not yet given an estimated time for when the platform areas will reopen and normal service will resume.
Severe Consequences for Hoaxers
Czech authorities are reminding the public that this is not a harmless prank.
Individuals who make false bomb threats in the Czech Republic face severe legal consequences. Those caught are routinely prosecuted for the crime of spreading alarmist news (šíření poplašné zprávy), which carries potential prison time and significant financial penalties to cover the cost of the emergency response – often hundreds of thousands of crowns.
Advice for passengers:
- Do NOT travel to Hlavní nádraží at this time.
- Check the Czech Railways (ČD) app, the Můj vlak app, and the DPP website for live travel updates.
- Use alternative stations: Praha-Holešovice, Praha-Smíchov, or Praha-Vršovice for some connections.
- Expect major delays throughout the day even after reopening.
Police promise to provide an update as soon as the building is declared safe.
