WARSAW, Poland — Western security authorities are analyzing potential Russian intelligence involvement in a scheme that involved incendiary devices hidden in packages on cargo flights destined for North America. This investigation has gained traction after one package exploded at a courier facility in Germany, while another ignited in a warehouse in England.
Last month, Polish officials announced the apprehension of four individuals believed to be connected to a foreign intelligence operation designed to execute sabotage, with efforts underway to locate two more suspects. Additionally, Lithuania’s prosecutor general, Nida Grunskiene, mentioned that an undisclosed number of arrests have occurred across multiple countries, though further information was not provided.
This situation has unfolded amid escalating concerns from Western officials regarding a more aggressive form of hybrid warfare waged by Russia, aimed at its allies in Ukraine. This includes disinformation campaigns related to elections and acts of arson witnessed in various European nations this year. Officials suspect the Russian military intelligence agency, the GRU, is behind these activities, although the Russian government has denied any involvement.
The Internal Security Agency of Poland (ABW) reported an increase in such incidents across Poland and other EU and NATO nations this year, attributing them to the coordination by Russian special services. Investigations led by the prosecutor’s office, the ABW, and police have resulted in charges against 20 individuals thus far.
Polish Prosecutor Katarzyna Calów-Jaszewska indicated that the ongoing investigation centers on foreign agents responsible for acts of sabotage. This includes attacks on critical infrastructure such as airports and vehicles, as well as the use of self-combustible packages sent to EU countries and the U.K. that could ignite in transit. Furthermore, she noted that the group had tested a method for dispatching such parcels to both the United States and Canada.
According to a report by the Wall Street Journal, the U.S. Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has implemented additional security protocols for certain cargo shipments to the U.S. over recent months, aimed at reducing potential risks. The TSA stated that it continually adapts its security measures and promptly communicates necessary information to industry partners to help mitigate threats.
Dirk Heinrichs, a spokesperson for DHL in Germany, stated that while he could not disclose specific details regarding the incidents, the company is fully cooperating with authorities to ensure the safety of its personnel and the security of shipments.
Last month, the head of MI5, Britain’s domestic intelligence agency, remarked on a dramatic increase in attempted sabotage and other criminal activities instigated by Russian and Iranian entities within the U.K.
On October 25, Calów-Jaszewska revealed that parcels containing disguised explosives had been dispatched to various EU nations and the U.K. in an effort to test transfer channels ultimately aimed at the U.S. and Canada. The incendiary incidents in Germany and the U.K. occurred in July.
One incident involved a package igniting at a DHL logistics center in Leipzig, as confirmed by Thomas Haldenwang, head of the German intelligence service. The situation unfolded when a flight containing the package, originating from one of the Baltic countries, was delayed on the ground in Leipzig, leading to the explosion within a freight container.
In Britain, counterterrorism police are probing the possible involvement of Russian agents in the igniting of a suspicious parcel at a DHL warehouse located in Minworth, near Birmingham, which ignited on July 22. This incident was reported similarly to the one in Germany.
Additionally, reports from the Polish newspaper Gazeta Wyborcza mentioned a fire occurring in a courier truck close to Warsaw, indicating ongoing concerns regarding sabotage.
Haldenwang also expressed that aggressive actions by Russian intelligence services are becoming increasingly prominent, noting a rise in both the number and complexity of Russian espionage and sabotage efforts in Germany. He elaborated that these activities encompass both physical and cyber realms, making Germany a focal point of Russia’s hybrid warfare strategy against Western democracies. He cautioned that Russia is employing every available tactic, which includes influencing domestic political discourse as well as sabotaging critical infrastructure.
MI5 Director General Ken McCallum warned that the GRU is persistently engaged in generating chaos within British and European territories, reporting incidents of arson, sabotage, and other reckless behaviors.
In response to these allegations, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov dismissed the media coverage concerning the supposed sabotage initiative as “vague fabrication.”
