Monday, November 4, 2024

Suspected Russian Sabotage Plot Uncovered in Incendiary DHL Packages Bound for the UK

 

An incendiary device concealed within a DHL package that ignited in Germany last July was allegedly intended to reach the UK by air as part of a suspected Russian sabotage scheme. The plot, thought to potentially serve as a trial run for similar attacks on the US and Canada, has sparked serious security concerns across Europe.

The device, reportedly hidden among shipments of massage pillows and personal items, caused a fire at a DHL hub in Leipzig. Investigators believe that if the package had been airborne, it could have resulted in a catastrophic incident, echoing an incident at a DHL facility in Birmingham on July 22, where a similar device also ignited on the ground.

Authorities revealed that both incendiary packages were en route from Lithuania to the UK, though the specific reasons for targeting the UK remain unclear. German reports suggest the parcels were addressed to fictitious names but real addresses in the UK. This was also the case for two additional incendiary packages discovered in Poland, one of which ignited at a warehouse in Warsaw, while the other was intercepted before causing damage.

The UK’s Metropolitan Police and counter-terrorism units have largely refrained from commenting on the suspected plot. However, in a brief statement last month, UK counter-terror police confirmed the Birmingham fire, noting that no injuries occurred and that the incident was quickly handled by warehouse staff and local firefighters.

Polish authorities recently arrested four individuals in connection with the suspected plot. The nation’s chief prosecutor alleged the group planned to use disguised explosives and hazardous materials to carry out sabotage in Europe, while two more suspects remain at large. According to Polish investigators, part of the operation may have been to test shipping channels for similar attacks aimed at the US and Canada.

Intelligence agencies across Europe, including those in the UK, Germany, Poland, and Lithuania, strongly suspect Russian involvement. They believe the Kremlin is seeking to incite chaos in response to Western military support for Ukraine. Last month, MI5 chief Ken McCallum highlighted Russia’s GRU military intelligence as seemingly on “a sustained mission to generate mayhem” on UK and European streets, citing acts of arson and sabotage.

Thomas Haldenwang, head of Germany’s domestic intelligence agency, warned the Bundestag that the Leipzig device, if ignited mid-flight, could have caused an aviation disaster. Though he refrained from naming Russia directly, Haldenwang accused Russian intelligence of endangering public safety through reckless operations.

Further investigation by the Wall Street Journal revealed that the incendiary packages were rigged with a magnesium-based flammable material. Magnesium fires are especially challenging to extinguish and can worsen if water is used, requiring special dry powder extinguishers instead.

The Kremlin has denied any connection to the alleged plot. “These are traditional unsubstantiated insinuations from the media,” stated Dmitry Peskov, a Kremlin spokesperson, dismissing the claims in response to the US-based report.

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