German investigators link Munich arson attack to GRU — FAZ

German investigators suspect Russia's military intelligence agency, the GRU, may have orchestrated an arson attack near the Munich headquarters of Rohde & Schwarz and Helsing on September 3. The FAZ reported this on September 25, quoting security sources. The attack involved two incendiary devices thrown from a car onto a construction site in Munich's Berg am Laim district, close to the companies' headquarters.

One device ignited but was quickly extinguished, while a second was defused with no damage or injuries reported. The Bulgarian nationals detained near the scene may have been recruited as low-level GRU operatives, according to investigators. Although the Munich Public Prosecutor General's Office declined to confirm the Russian connection, Germany formally attributed an attempted explosive-drone attack at Leipzig/Halle Airport to Russia on September 1, finding a drone with explosives near a runway.

The investigation led to the identification of two Russian suspects, one of whom had longstanding contacts with a GRU officer specializing in sabotage operations. Germany has imposed sanctions on Russia, including the closure of its Consulate General in Bonn and action against the Russian House cultural center in Berlin. A German Federal Criminal Police Office assessment reported over 165 suspected sabotage cases in Germany since the beginning of 2026, highlighting hundreds of suspicious drone incidents near military facilities, defense companies, and critical infrastructure.