Europe on edge amid suspected Russian-linked arson and sabotage
What's the story
European security services are currently on high alert due to suspected arson and sabotage linked to Russia. This development follows a series of unexplained fires and attacks on infrastructure across the Baltics, Germany, and the United Kingdom. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk first suggested the possibility of Russian involvement after a recent fire at an Ikea store in Vilnius, Lithuania, which he claimed could be the work of a "foreign saboteur."
Potential sabotage
Suspected Russian involvement in multiple European incidents
Since then, investigators have pointed to potential Russian involvement in several incidents across Europe. These include an arson attack in east London, a fire that destroyed Poland's largest shopping mall, a sabotage attempt in Bavaria, Germany, and antisemitic graffiti in Paris. While no evidence of coordination between these incidents has been found yet, security services suspect they could be part of Moscow's attempt to destabilize the West over its backing for Ukraine.
Ongoing probes
Arrests and investigations linked to suspected sabotage
Polish authorities have arrested nine individuals linked to acts of sabotage allegedly ordered by Russian services. These crimes reportedly include "beatings, arson and attempted arson," according to Prime Minister Tusk. Similarly, in April, a British man was accused of orchestrating an arson attack on two units linked to a Ukrainian businessman in east London. The Crown Prosecution Service claimed he was "engaged in conduct targeting businesses which were linked to Ukraine in order to benefit the Russian state."
International incidents
UK and Estonia report suspected Russian sabotage
Estonian Defense Minister Hanno Pevkur revealed that his country had also been victim to Russian sabotage, after cars belonging to the interior minister and a journalist were attacked. In Germany, suspicions of foreign intelligence-driven attacks have arisen alongside cyber-attacks by a hacker group linked to Russian intelligence. Meanwhile, French investigators are considering whether antisemitic graffiti painted on Paris's Holocaust memorial was ordered by Russian security services, following similar incidents last year when Star of David symbols were spray-painted on buildings.