European allies sound alarm at more incidents of alleged Russian sabotage

Two individuals have been apprehended in connection with an alleged arson incident at a German defense manufacturing facility in Bavaria. This follows two separate sabotage attempts on Germany's power grid and a drone attack on a German airport the previous month. Germany and its allies attribute these actions to Russian hybrid warfare, a claim the Kremlin denies.

German authorities are probing a suspected arson attack near a defense company in Munich, which occurred shortly after two power grid sabotage incidents. The police also tied a drone attack on a Leipzig airport to Russia last month. On Thursday, two suspects, a 28-year-old woman and a 38-year-old man both Bulgarian, were arrested by Bavarian police at a gas station near Rohde & Schwarz's headquarters.

The suspects were sought for throwing incendiary devices and causing a fire at the construction site. No major damage was reported, and there were no injuries. Rohde & Schwarz confirmed the police and fire response near their site. Bulgarian Interior Minister Ivan Demerdzhiev expressed willingness to cooperate but did not provide further details.

Germany has drawn European concerns over the past week due to its critical infrastructure vulnerabilities. The August drone attack on Leipzig/Halle airport, attributed to Moscow, was part of alleged hybrid warfare meant to intimidate and divide countries supporting Ukraine since Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022. The upcoming meeting between German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius and his US counterpart Pete Hegseth in Washington is expected to discuss the drone attack.

While investigations progress and the EU ponders additional sanctions, Russia vehemently denies involvement, threatening to close Germany's Goethe-Institut cultural centers in retaliation. Poland and Britain summoned Russian diplomats, following suit from other allies. German Foreign Minister Hans-Dietrich Genscher welcomed the solidarity displayed, stating that Moscow would likely feel its impact.

This week, German police investigated two power grid sabotage attempts in Brandenburg and North Rhine-Westphalia, stating they could not rule out foreign involvement or domestic left-wing extremism. Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski condemned Russian state terrorism during a meeting with German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul in Weimar.

Denmark's national security and intelligence service PET reported Russia recruiting Danish citizens to help plan sabotage against defense firms tied to Ukraine, uncovering instances of Russians attempting to recruit Danes on social media and gaming platforms. German investigators are also pursuing leads in Poland and Serbia related to the Leipzig drone attack and a drone and explosives discovery at the Serbian-Hungarian border, as reported by Spiegel magazine.