Alleged saboteur arrested in Hamburg – planned attack on drone factory in Slovakia
A 26-year-old Latvian was arrested in Hamburg on the basis of a European arrest warrant. He is suspected of having planned an arson attack on a Slovak drone factory.
Arrest in Hamburg: suspect allegedly prepared attack on Slovak drone factory
Following an allegedly foiled arson attack on a drone factory in eastern Slovakia, Hamburg police arrested one of the suspects on Tuesday. According to Google News DE – Crime (de), the man is a 26-year-old of Latvian nationality.
A spokesman for the Hamburg prosecutor's office confirmed that a European arrest warrant issued by a Slovak court against the accused was executed. Additionally, an extradition request from Slovakia is pending. The responsible Hamburg district court issued a so-called detention order at the request of the prosecutor's office. The man is currently in custody in Germany.
According to findings by Slovak security authorities, the man arrested in Hamburg allegedly planned the attack on an aircraft systems factory in eastern Slovakia together with a second Latvian citizen and a Ukrainian citizen. The facility apparently also manufactures militarily-used drones. In parallel with the arrest in Hamburg, the alleged accomplices were arrested in Slovakia, according to the local police.
The trio are accused of having acted "on behalf of" unspecified third parties. Whether the drone components produced at the factory are also used in the conflict with Russia remained initially unclear. Slovakia is a NATO member and borders Ukraine to the east.
The arrests were made on the basis of information from the Slovak intelligence service. According to police, authorities seized from the suspects larger quantities of a napalm-like incendiary mixture, technical equipment and handwritten notes.
The prosecutor's office in the Slovak town of Prešov confirmed to news agency Reuters that the men arrested in Slovakia are now also in investigative custody.
Hamburg defence lawyer Christian Lange, who represents the accused arrested in Germany, stated in response to inquiry that he initially wanted to make "no statement" regarding the accusations against his client. The defence for the two other accused was not reachable on Wednesday.
Source: Google News DE — Crime (de)