Russian acts of sabotage? The arrest of suspected Putin spies in Germany has reignited speculation about two incidents in the US and Britain.
Washington DC/London – The arrest of two suspected Russian spies in Bayreuth caused a stir not only in Germany. Fear of Russian espionage is also growing in other NATO countries that are supporting the Ukraine war with arms deliveries against Vladimir Putin's forces.
Speculation about Russian espionage in NATO countries: Mysterious accidents in the USA and Great Britain
In the USA and Great Britain in particular, two mysterious accidents in defense systems may now shine in a new light against the background of the events in Bavaria. There is increasing speculation, especially on social media, about possible Russian espionage operations in the facilities where weapons and equipment were manufactured for the people of Kiev in the war in Ukraine.
This comes amid rising tensions between Russia and the West, more than two years after Russian President Vladimir Putin's all-out invasion of Ukraine. Concern about a threat from Russia is growing, particularly in NATO. This fact is now once again fueling the arrest of the two suspected Putin spies in Germany. The federal public prosecutor's office accuses Dieter S. (39) and Alexander J. (37) of having had contact with the Russian military intelligence service GRU and of planning acts of sabotage in order to prevent arms deliveries to Ukraine.
Russian espionage in Germany: explosive attacks by suspected Putin spies prevented
“Our security authorities prevented possible explosive attacks that targeted and undermined our military support to Ukraine. “It is a particularly serious case of suspected espionage activity for Putin’s criminal regime,” said German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser at a press conference in Berlin about the espionage scandal involving Putin’s alleged agents in Germany.
Now speculation is growing on social media about two separate incidents at arms suppliers in the United States and the United Kingdom. On April 15, a fire broke out at a military facility in the town of Scranton, Pennsylvania, while in Monmouthshire, South Wales, on April 17, an explosion occurred at a production facility belonging to BAE Systems, Britain's largest defense contractor. Both factories produced supplies for the Kiev armed forces.
Russian espionage in NATO countries: speculation about sabotage in the USA and Great Britain
Investigations have been launched into both incidents. David Frum, a Canadian-American
political commentator and former speechwriter for President George W. Bush, responded to the two
arrests
in Germany this
week
on
Ammunition factories in the USA and Great Britain have ignited.”
Sergei Sumlenny, founder of the German think tank European Resilience Initiative Center, pointed out the incidents. “The UK's only 155mm shell factory reports an explosion this evening (with no serious damage to the factory). Two days ago, a fire broke out at a US munitions plant in Scranton that produces shells for Ukraine. Today two Russian saboteurs were arrested in Germany,” he wrote on
X
.
Russian espionage in NATO countries: Ammunition factories issue statements after incidents
Following Wednesday's explosion in Wales
, BAE Systems said safety protocols were "immediately put into effect", there were no injuries and production was not affected, according to
the BBC
. The cause is being investigated, it said.
The Army Ammunition Plant in Scranton posted a statement on Facebook Monday about the fire: “At approximately 3:20 p.m. today, crews responded to a fire in the heat treatment building at the Scranton Army Ammunition Plant. The fire has now been extinguished, there were no injuries and all employees are doing well. The cause of the fire is currently unknown. We are currently assessing the damage to determine possible effects on the facilities or production.” In light of the arrest of the two suspected Putin spies in Bavaria, the investigators will probably take a closer look again.