Terrorist attack in Prague

Terrorist attack in Prague

Olga Hepnarová is not a name that is familiar to many people even in Czechia. She is infamous here as the last woman to be executed by the state in 1975 after carrying out a terrorist attack in Prague in 1973.

Olga was born in 1951 and had an unremarkable childhood. She developed psychiatric problems and tried to commit suicide in 1964. After a year in a psychiatric ward she worked in a variety of jobs but was never able to hold a job for more than a few months. She ended up working as a truck driver1.

In July 1973, Olga wrote to two national newspapers. She was paranoid that the world was out to get her and destroy her family. In her state, she blamed the world at large for all her problems, writing:

I’m a destroyed human. A human destroyed by people. Therefore, I have a choice: to kill myself or to kill others. And I decide as follows. I WILL RETURN MY HATERS THEIR FAVOUR. If I had gone as an unknown suicide it would have been too easy for you. …  Here’s my verdict: I, Olga Hepnarová, the victim of your bestiality, sentence you to death2.

She also described the terrorist attack she planned to carry out in detail. Unfortunately, the letters did not reach the newspapers in time to prevent her from doing it2.

A Praha RN Truck (This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported license.)

On 10 July 1973, just after lunch, Olga was in a Praga RN truck driving down Obrácnů Míru (now Milada Horáková) street.

The original street name ironically translates as “Defenders of Peace”. The street was renamed in 1990 after Milada Horáková who resisted the Austria-Hungarians, the Nazis and the Communists. My article explains the extraordinary story behind the only woman executed for political reasons in Czechoslovakia.

In those days, there was a tram stop in front of house #9, just before the junction with Veverkova street. The tram stop has since been moved and is now on the following corner in front of house #13.

This is not far from where I work; it’s just opposite St Anthony’s church. The tram stop is one I use on a regular basis. This little fact is one of the first things that attracted me to this story.

The location of the tram stop - Prague, Czechia
The original location of the tram stop – Prague, Czechia

With perfect driving conditions on the road, Olga swerved in front of house #13 and mounted the pavement. The pavement is about 4 metres wide; the truck fit comfortably on it. At 1:45 pm, Olga ploughed through the people there, including those waiting for the next tram. She affected 20 people in all: 3 died on the spot, 5 died in hospital, 6 had severe injuries and the remaining 6 suffered light injuries. The truck’s engine stalled after the collision. Olga calmly stayed in the driver’s seat until the police arrived 1.

I can only imagine the confusion and horror they experienced. Most people stand around chatting or, today, on their phones. Few stare in the direction of traffic. Trams are regular and efficient so whenever the next one turns up they’ll look up from whatever is distracting them. I imagine a few of them didn’t see the truck coming until they heard the first screams.

The current tram stop (with a few passengers waiting) - Prague, Czechia
The current tram stop (with a few passengers waiting) – Prague, Czechia

During the interrogation, Olga confirmed she wanted to kill as many people as possible. “I did it on purpose,” she told investigators. Psychologists examined her and concluded she knew what she was doing. She understood the consequences of her actions and didn’t regret a thing4.

On 6 April 1974, Prague’s criminal court found her guilty and sentenced her to death5. It didn’t take long for the higher courts and the Czech Supreme Court to confirm this verdict6. (Olga didn’t help her case when she attacked two other prisoners in the Czech Supreme Court. The situation escalated so quickly, she managed to wrestle a baton from one of the guards and beat people up with it3.)

The junction where the tram stop is sited - Prague, Czechia
The junction where the tram stop is sited – Prague, Czechia

On 12 March 1975, Olga Hepnarová was executed by short-drop hanging at Pankrác Prison in Prague7.

Hepnarová was the last woman ever executed in Czechoslovakia8.

Do you know of any infamous historical figures in your town? Leave a comment and tell us about it!

References

  1. Crossing the Rubicon; PanthareiEstranky.cz; (Retrieved 2018-02-12) [↩][↩]
  2. Investigation; PanthareiEstranky.cz; (Retrieved 2018-02-12) [↩][↩]
  3. The Finale; PanthareiEstranky.cz; (Retrieved 2018-02-12) [↩][↩]
  4. After the crime; PanthareiEstranky.cz; (Retrieved 2018-02-12) [↩]
  5. The trial; PanthareiEstranky.cz; (Retrieved 2018-02-12) [↩]
  6. One more try; PanthareiEstranky.cz; (Retrieved 2018-02-12) [↩]
  7. The aftermath; PanthareiEstranky.cz; (Retrieved 2018-02-12) [↩]
  8. Olga Hepnarová – the last woman executed in Czechoslovakia; Capital Punishment UK; (Retrieved 2019-06-24) [↩]
Remember: links were correct at time of publication.