Russia allegedly planned incendiary attacks on flights to US and Canada
Photo: DHL became a victim of Russian special services (wikiwand.com)
Russia tested the possibility of organizing terrorist attacks on board passenger planes during their flights from Europe to the United States and Canada. Investigators uncovered incendiary devices and detained suspects, according to The Wall Street Journal.
Western intelligence agencies discovered two incendiary devices sent via DHL. They believe this was part of a covert Russian operation intended to provoke fires aboard civilian aircraft. Similar devices ignited in July at DHL logistics centers in Leipzig, Germany, and Birmingham, UK.
The incidents involving the fires triggered an international search for those responsible. Investigators and intelligence agencies in Europe established that the explosive packages contained electric massagers filled with a magnesium-based flammable substance. Investigators concluded that they were part of a broader conspiracy involving Russian intelligence services.
Authorities sought the organizers of the explosions in Germany and the UK across Europe. Poland’s National Prosecutor’s Office arrested four individuals and charged them with participating in sabotage or terrorist operations on behalf of a foreign intelligence service. Investigators did not disclose their names or nationalities. The search continues for at least two more individuals involved.
Prosecutors confirmed that the goal of the explosions was to test the transmission channel for such packages, which were planned to be sent to the United States and Canada.
In response to a query from The Wall Street Journal, Dmitry Peskov, Press Secretary of the Russian president, stated that the Kremlin "has never heard any official accusations" regarding Russia's involvement.
He characterized the publication as "traditional unsubstantiated insinuations from the media."
Fires at DHL warehouses
The incident in the UK occurred on July 22, 2024, in Minworth, a suburb of Birmingham. The package was delivered by air; however, it fortunately ignited on the ground rather than in the air.
Special forces established that the electric massagers were sent to the UK from Lithuania. They believe the operation aimed to determine how to smuggle these incendiary devices onto planes bound for North America.
The UK is investigating the incident in cooperation with law enforcement agencies from other European countries. Currently, no potential suspects have been detained.
A similar incident occurred in late July in Germany. A suspicious package destined for a departing flight caught fire at a DHL warehouse in Leipzig.
Thomas Haldenwang, head of Germany’s internal security agency, informed lawmakers that no one was harmed due to the fire and flight delay, calling it a "lucky coincidence."
Additionally, a fire occurred in May at the Diehl defense factory warehouse in Berlin. The facility manufactures components for the Iris-T surface-to-air missile systems, which are supplied to Ukraine for defense against Russian missile attacks.
