Romanian officials accuse Russia of coordinating fire at Brasov industrial site
Two suspects were remanded in custody in Germany while a third remains at large in Poland, authorities said.
By Naomi Whitaker ·
Romanian intelligence services identified a Russian-coordinated network behind a September 14 fire at an industrial facility near a state-owned weapons factory in Brasov. The agency stated the blaze was part of a wider sabotage campaign aimed at arms manufacturers and other targets of military interest.
The Directorate for Investigating Organized Crime and Terrorism, or DIICOT, determined that three individuals were involved in the incident. Two were citizens of Belarus, and one was a Ukrainian. All three resided in European Union countries at the time.
Two suspects were located in Germany and placed in remand custody while they were preparing to commit similar offenses. The third suspect remains at large in Poland. Russian authorities have not yet commented on the claim, though Moscow has denied similar accusations in the past.
Intelligence officials described the recruitment process for such networks. Agents often approach targets on social media, initially offering money for simple tasks like observing or photographing locations. Over time, the assignments escalate to include vandalism, arson, or even murder.
This case follows a series of incidents at defense sites across Europe. In September, explosions and fires struck two ammunition storage sites in Bulgaria operated by EMCO. That same month, firebombs were thrown near the offices of a defense company in Munich. In August, a blast hit an ammunition factory near Rome operated by KNDS.
Maritime incidents have also increased. At least eight cargo ships were hit off the coasts of Romania and Bulgaria in the last three weeks, leaving about 34 sailors dead or missing. President Nicusor Dan characterized these events as part of a hybrid war intended to destabilize nations supporting Ukraine.
Foreign Minister Dan Neculaescu stated that the Brasov fire was part of a broader campaign of sabotage across Europe. He noted that hybrid attacks would not prevent the country from strengthening its resilience and defense. The accusation comes as Romania, an EU and NATO member sharing a 600km border with Ukraine, continues to monitor its airspace and infrastructure.
Source: Al Jazeera
