CNN: Planned Russian assassination attempt on Rheinmetall boss foiled

The Russian government planned an assassination attempt on the head of the arms company that supplies weapons and military vehicles to Ukraine earlier this year, CNN reported on Thursday, citing five officials in the United States and Germany.

The plot was part of a series of planned attacks on managers of European arms companies. The German secret services foiled the plans after being informed about them by the USA. The German Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution and the German Interior Ministry declined to comment when asked.

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However, the German government is taking the threats from the Russian regime very seriously, said a ministry spokesman. “Our security authorities are very vigilant and are acting accordingly, in close cooperation with our international partners.” The German government will not allow itself to be intimidated by the Russian threats. “We will continue to do everything we can to prevent possible threats in Germany.”

The Russian threats were primarily aimed at undermining the support of Germany and its partners for Ukraine in its defensive struggle against the Russian war of aggression. “The Russian regime uses threats such as cyber attacks, disinformation, espionage and sabotage,” he said. In April, for example, German counterintelligence prevented possible acts of sabotage aimed at military support for Ukraine. The so-called Tiergarten murder in Berlin in 2019, which was demonstrably commissioned by Russian state authorities, also demonstrated the danger posed by state terrorism.

Pushed for more arms deliveries

Papperger has pushed for more arms deliveries to Ukraine. His company, one of the largest ammunition manufacturers in the world, operates a tank repair facility in the west of the country together with Ukraine. Only in June Papperger announced that he wanted to expand cooperation with Ukraine and supply Lynx infantry fighting vehicles. Rheinmetall supplies Ukraine with weapons and ammunition. Papperger has repeatedly stressed that it is important to Rheinmetall to support Ukraine in its critical situation.

A spokesman for the company did not want to comment on the CNN report. The company does not comment on questions of company security. “The necessary measures are always taken in regular coordination with the security authorities,” he simply said. In April, unknown persons carried out an arson attack on a garden shed on Papperger’s property in Lower Saxony. Investigations are ongoing, and it is also being examined whether a letter of confession from left-wing extremists is authentic.