Counterterrorism officials in the United Kingdom and Germany are investigating suspected Russian sabotage targeting European transportation networks, with concerns about potential threats to aviation security. In July 2024, a package caught fire at a DHL warehouse in Birmingham, raising concerns it may have been deliberately planted on a plane destined for the U.K.
Officials are examining whether this was part of a larger Russian effort to disrupt logistics networks in Britain, in what could be an act of sabotage.
In a similar incident in Germany, a package burst into flames at a DHL facility in Leipzig, just before it was scheduled to be loaded onto a plane. German authorities suggested that had the package exploded in mid-flight, it could have resulted in a major aviation disaster. Officials suspect pro-Russian saboteurs may have been behind the incident.
Authorities believe these incidents are part of a broader Russian strategy to target European supply chains as retaliation for the West’s support of Ukraine. Intelligence agencies in both the U.K. and Germany have reported an increase in Russian sabotage attempts, including attacks on military sites and critical infrastructure.
German intelligence chief Thomas Haldenwang indicated that Russian sabotage efforts have intensified and are becoming more dangerous, with operatives targeting various aspects of Europe’s logistical networks. He emphasized the risks posed by these efforts, which he said are designed to spread instability across the continent.
Both countries’ investigations are ongoing, with U.K. police collaborating with European counterparts to determine if these incidents are connected to other similar attacks.
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