베를린 숲에 숨겨진 권총…‘GPS 감시’ 1년에도 실행책 못 잡아

Two firearms believed to have been hidden away by a Russian intelligence agency in a Berlin forest have been discovered by German authorities, according to reports from German media on the 21st. German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrinstein stated during a press conference that these weapons were intended for use in real attacks or assassinations.

The BfV, Germany's federal intelligence agency, found the concealed facility last summer in the forests between Berlin and the state of Brandenburg. Inside the facility, two firearms with live ammunition were found. Dobrinstein claimed that German prosecutors are currently investigating a suspect for the alleged crime of espionage and preparation for state-sponsored violent actions.

Authorities have been monitoring the weapons using GPS tracking devices, but were unable to detect any movement in the past year. Last autumn, a man suspected of involvement in the creation of the hidden weapon storage facility was arrested in Romania. Dobrinstein noted that efforts are being made to extradite the suspect from Romania.

Dobrinstein also indicated that the possibility of foreign involvement in the incident cannot be ruled out. German authorities suspect that the Russian intelligence agency may have established a secret arms cache as part of their clandestine operations. The Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution has previously warned that Russia could attempt an attack on German soil against opposition figures, military-industrial executives, and Ukrainian supporters.

The use of such tactics, which dates back to the Soviet KGB era, involves hiding weapons and communication equipment in local facilities for foreign intelligence agencies operating abroad.