Wire flash
ConflictGerman security authorities discover hidden weapons cache near Berlin, suspect Russian intelligence
Editorial responsibility
- No named human review is recorded for this page.
- Source reporting is collected, normalized, translated or condensed automatically when needed.
- Automatically published source-backed update
German security authorities have discovered a hidden weapons cache in a forest near Berlin, containing two handguns. According to media reports from Norddeutscher Rundfunk, Westdeutscher Rundfunk, and Süddeutsche Zeitung, the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution suspects Russian intelligence services are behind the depot. The Federal Public Prosecutor General has launched an investigation on suspicion of preparing a serious act of violence endangering the state. A suspect was arrested in Romania some time ago and may have set up the cache. The weapons were found in late summer of the previous year following a tip, and were rendered inoperable. German security authorities believe the weapons were intended for agents to carry out so-called kinetic operations, such as assassinations, on behalf of Russia. The cache was monitored but without success, and perpetrators may have noticed the discovery.
Source report
The Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution in Cologne. Source: Oliver Berg/dpa
Security authorities have discovered a secret weapons cache in a forest near Berlin, according to a media report. The Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution (BfV) suspects that the depot was established on behalf of Russian intelligence services, as reported by Norddeutscher Rundfunk, Westdeutscher Rundfunk, and Süddeutsche Zeitung on Friday.
Two handguns were found stored in the depot, located in a forest in Brandenburg.
Investigation and Arrest
According to the report, the Federal Public Prosecutor General is now investigating on suspicion of preparing a serious act of violence endangering the state. A suspect was arrested in Romania some time ago and may have been responsible for setting up the weapons cache.
Official Responses
The Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution declined to comment publicly on the matter in response to an inquiry from WELT. "This does not constitute a statement as to whether the facts are correct or not," the agency said.
The Federal Public Prosecutor General has not yet responded to a short-notice inquiry.
Timeline and Purpose
The media further report that authorities received a tip about the hiding place and discovered it as early as late summer last year. German security authorities are now convinced that the weapons were deposited for agents tasked with carrying out so-called "kinetic operations" on behalf of Russia, such as assassinations.
The weapons found were rendered inoperable. The depot was subsequently monitored, but without success. The perpetrators may have noticed the discovery, the media write.
With reporting by AFP
Source
Nachrichten - WELTWestern
Part of this Story
German Authorities Discover Russian-Linked Weapons Cache Near Berlin