Was it sabotage? A fire broke out in the DHL air freight center in Leipzig in July. Security circles assume that this was no ordinary fire. The Office for the Protection of the Constitution and the Federal Criminal Police Office were alerted.
German security authorities are warning of “unconventional incendiary devices” that are being sent by unknown persons via freight service providers. For several weeks, the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution (BfV) and the Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA) have “been aware of several parcel shipments that were posted by private individuals at locations in Europe and caught fire on the way to their recipients in several European countries,” according to a security notice available to the German Press Agency in Berlin. This was sent by both authorities to companies in the aviation and logistics sectors.
The word Russia does not appear in the warning from the BfV and BKA. Nevertheless, security circles do not rule out a connection with the increasing cases of Russian sabotage in Germany.
Incident in logistics center in Leipzig
In security circles, the warning is linked to an incident at the DHL logistics center in Leipzig, which serves as the company’s global hub. In July, a package sent from the Baltic states caught fire there, which contained an incendiary device. The package set fire to an entire freight container, which also contained other packages. The fire was quickly extinguished.
The package containing the incendiary device was to be reloaded in Leipzig and sent on to its final recipient. Security circles assume that the incident is connected to increasing cases of attempted sabotage, allegedly by Russians. According to dpa information, the Federal Prosecutor General in Karlsruhe has taken over the investigation. A spokeswoman did not want to provide any information when asked. Other countries in Europe are said to be affected by similar cases.
DHL: We have taken action
When asked, DHL said: “In response to ongoing investigations by authorities in several countries, DHL Express has taken measures in all European countries to protect its network, its employees and facilities, as well as its customers’ shipments. We are aware of two recent incidents affecting shipments in our network.” When asked, the DHL spokeswoman did not want to specify the two locations of the incidents. She also did not provide any information on whether fires had broken out in each case and whether people had been injured.
Lufthansa Cargo, the largest German air freight company, is also paying increased attention. However, there have been no incidents involving incendiary devices in its own operations to date, says a spokeswoman at Frankfurt Airport. The transport of air freight is subject to strict security requirements that are continuously monitored. Frankfurt is Germany’s largest cargo airport, ahead of Leipzig.
In response to a dpa query, the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution stated that the “BfV’s economic protection department sensitizes companies and business associations to potential security risks on an ad hoc basis.” A corresponding security notice was sent out on August 28. The BfV could not comment on the details because it was not a public letter. The BKA made the same statement.
Possibly more air freight packages sent
The letter of awareness from the BfV and BKA states that it must be taken into account that further packages containing unconventional incendiary devices have been or will be sent. The companies contacted were asked to sensitize their employees and take precautionary measures. Based on the current status, it can be assumed that the “unconventional incendiary devices were sent intentionally to damage freight service companies and other logistical infrastructure in western countries.”
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All of the packages that have come to light so far have contained electrical items and containers with liquids. The high shipping costs for the packages have regularly been “economically disproportionate to the value of the goods in the shipments.”
It is an open secret in security circles that Russian sabotage and espionage activities in Germany have increased significantly in recent weeks and months, including the use of drones.
Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution warns business of Russian sabotage
The Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution has repeatedly warned of Russian sabotage actions in the past. Most recently, on July 26, the Federal Office sensitized the economy to Russian acts of sabotage in a security notice published on its website: The corresponding cases observed across Europe since 2023 “as well as increased indications of possible activities in Germany are currently leading to an adjusted assessment: There is an increased risk of sabotage activities or corresponding preparatory actions in Germany.”
Last week, security circles said that a temporary increase in security at the NATO air base in Geilenkirchen near Aachen was due to intelligence information about a possible threat from Russia. There had been a serious indication from a foreign intelligence service “of preparatory actions for a likely Russian act of sabotage against the NATO base using a drone.”
Previously, the second highest security level had been in place at the NATO base in North Rhine-Westphalia for almost 24 hours. After nothing had happened, security precautions were scaled back to the level that had previously applied. Recently, there had also been fears of sabotage at several Bundeswehr locations. Security circles also believe that repeated drone flights over critical infrastructure in Schleswig-Holstein can be attributed to Russia.
Source: Stern
I have been working in the news industry for over 6 years, first as a reporter and now as an editor. I have covered politics extensively, and my work has appeared in major newspapers and online news outlets around the world. In addition to my writing, I also contribute regularly to 24 Hours World.
