German Authorities Arrest Two Belarusian Nationals Over Alleged Russian Sabotage Plot
German police have detained two Belarusian citizens accused of planning sabotage attacks on infrastructure in southern Germany on behalf of Russia.
POLICY WIRE — Munich, Germany — Law enforcement officials have taken two Belarusian nationals into custody on suspicion of orchestrating sabotage operations within southern Germany. The Munich General Prosecutor’s Office confirmed the arrests on Wednesday, following reports from security sources cited by Der Spiegel.
Authorities allege the suspects were preparing to ignite fires near critical infrastructure, specifically targeting a railway line and a power transmission network located in the Nuremberg district. These planned acts of sabotage were reportedly intended to be carried out on behalf of Russian interests.
The investigation into these activities coincides with broader security concerns regarding foreign intelligence operations on German soil. Reports indicate that the suspects were also linked to an attempted arson incident at a defense facility in Romania.
In a separate development, federal public prosecutors announced on Thursday that a Ukrainian citizen was arrested in the state of Brandenburg on suspicion of conducting espionage for Russia. Additionally, German security officials have identified a Belarusian citizen and a Russian national with ties to military intelligence as primary suspects in an August drone attack at the Leipzig-Halle airport.
Prosecutors further noted that the suspects had been conducting surveillance on a German individual involved in the supply of drones and related components to Ukraine. These incidents follow a series of recent security challenges, including separate attempts to sabotage the national power grid and a suspected arson attack at a German defense manufacturer.
Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)
