When parcels caught fire at DHL logistics centres in Germany and the UK earlier this year, security officials were quick to suspect Russian sabotage. They concluded that the packages were meant to be routed aboard North American-bound planes. One package caught fire at a DHL logistics centre in Leipzig, and another in Birmingham, UK.
According to a Wall Street Journal report, Western intelligence services determined that Russia was involved and that the intent was to find the best way to transport such combustible materials on board transatlantic flights bound for the United States and Canada.
Polish authorities have arrested four people in connection with the fires, charging them with participating in sabotage or terrorist operations on behalf of a foreign intelligence agency. Poland is working with other countries to find two more suspects. Paweł Szota, head of Poland’s foreign intelligence service, believes Russian spies are to blame but said he couldn’t be sure if Russia’s political leadership “was aware of the consequences” were one of the packages to explode while in flight.
Other Western intelligence officials have implied that Russia’s military intelligence (GRU) is involved. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov insists that Moscow is unaware of any official allegations citing Russia.
National intelligence services in Europe have warned their governments about the need for increased vigilance in the face of a Russian sabotage threat. Thomas Haldenwang, head of Germany’s BfV internal security agency, said that it had been a matter of sheer luck that the package that caught fire at the Leipzig DHL logistics centre had not done so in the air.
Acts of sabotage have been reported in the Czech Republic and in Sweden. Germany and the US foiled a Russian plot to murder Armin Papperger, chief of Rheinmetall, which set up artillery shell factories and tank repair facilities in Ukraine. Ken McCallum, head of MI5, Britain’s counter-intelligence agency, recently warned that Russia and Iran have been recruiting criminal elements to do their dirty work.
