Arson attack in Munich: Two Bulgarians in pre-trial detention, suspected foreign intelligence link
Following an arson attack on a construction site near Munich defence contractors, two Bulgarian citizens are being held in pre-trial detention. Investigators are examining a possible foreign intelligence background.
Arson attack near defence contractors: Two Bulgarians in pre-trial detention
Following an arson attack on a construction site in the Munich metropolitan area, two Bulgarian citizens are being held in pre-trial detention. As DER SPIEGEL (Justice & Crime) reports, they are 28-year-old Gabriela M. and 38-year-old Dimitar T., both resident in Unterhaching, Bavaria. An investigating judge issued arrest warrants against the suspects.
The Munich General State Prosecutor's Office and the Bavarian State Criminal Police Office stated that the two are accused of property damage and attempted arson. They are alleged to have thrown incendiary devices onto the site from a moving car during the night leading into Thursday. One of the devices ignited a fire, which police extinguished; a second was defused. No one was injured and the resulting property damage was minor.
A witness observed the alleged perpetrators during the act. Police arrested the two suspects shortly afterwards at a petrol station. According to a spokesman for the State Criminal Police Office, there are currently no other suspects. In the course of the investigation, three flats in Munich district were searched and numerous items were seized, which are now being evaluated.
The construction site is in immediate proximity to the company headquarters of security technology manufacturer Rohde & Schwarz and drone manufacturer Helsing. Whether the companies were the actual target of the attack remains unclear according to investigators. Helsing is publicly known for supplying Ukrainian armed forces in the war against Russia and produces, among other things, AI-controlled combat drones. Rohde & Schwarz is not a classic defence contractor, but does operate a military division.
Bavaria's Interior Minister Joachim Herrmann (CSU) and investigators assume a political background to the act. The Munich General State Prosecutor's Office has therefore taken over the investigation — the office is home to Bavaria's central unit for combating extremism and terrorism.
According to SPIEGEL information, security authorities are currently examining whether the arrested individuals could be so-called low-level agents acting on behalf of a foreign intelligence service. Both were previously unknown to the authorities in connection with either espionage or political offences. A statement from the defence was initially unavailable.
According to SPIEGEL research, the attack was preceded by concrete warning signs. Shortly beforehand, security authorities had invited several defence companies based in Bavaria to a confidential briefing and called for heightened vigilance. Among those present were Rohde & Schwarz and Helsing, amongst others. The background was the arrest in early August in Thuringia of a Ukrainian national who is accused of spying on several Bavarian defence companies and passing the corresponding photographs to a contact at a Russian intelligence service. The authorities feared his information could be used for further attacks despite his detention.
Bavaria and the Munich metropolitan area are regarded as centres of the German defence industry. According to figures from the Bavarian Ministry of Economics from the previous year, one third of nationwide sector turnover was generated by companies based in Bavaria, which together employ 45,000 people. Turnover and employee numbers are growing as European NATO states have significantly increased their defence spending.
According to investigators' assessment, the attack is part of a series of sabotage acts against companies and facilities across Germany. According to a spokeswoman for the Federal Interior Ministry, the Federal Government is now consulting with the Länder on new powers for drone defence and further protective measures.