Two Bulgarians arrested in Munich for incendiary attacks on defence equipment companies
Two Bulgarians, aged 28 and 38, were arrested at a petrol station on suspicion of launching incendiary bombs at a street in Munich where defence companies have their headquarters.
Arrest of two suspects in incendiary attacks on Munich defence companies
A 28-year-old woman and a 38-year-old man, both of Bulgarian origin, were arrested at a petrol station on suspicion of launching incendiary attacks on buildings of defence companies in Munich, according to Naftemporiki.
According to a spokesperson for the local police, around midnight it was reported that "incendiary devices were launched from a car on Mildorfstrasse", in the eastern suburbs of the city. Police officers managed to extinguish the fire from one bomb immediately, whilst a second device was neutralised without causing damage.
The street is home to numerous defence industry companies, including the Rohde & Schwarz group, which specialises in security technologies for government and military applications, as well as Helsing, which develops artificial intelligence software and autonomous defence systems. A Rohde & Schwarz spokesperson confirmed that incendiary devices were found near the company's offices, clarifying however that the building sustained no damage. Helsing made no statement.
The police stated in their announcement that they "suspect a political background" to the attack. Bavaria's Interior Minister Joachim Herrmann linked the incident to a series of previous sabotage actions in Germany.
"We are now facing an increased threat to our infrastructure, but also, clearly, to the defence industries in our country," Herrmann said at a press conference in Nuremberg.
In recent weeks, hybrid attacks have multiplied in Germany, which is the main supporter of Ukraine in its war with Russia. On Tuesday, two attacks on electrical substations were recorded, whilst in early August an unmanned aircraft carrying explosives was found at Leipzig airport — an attempt that Berlin attributes to Moscow.
Germany's Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul, when asked about the matter during a joint press conference in Weimar with his counterparts from France and Poland, stated that the security services "are vigilant". "We can clarify such cases at any time," he said, citing the recent drone incident at Leipzig airport as an example.
Source: Naftemporiki