Fire at WB Electronics drone factory in Poland suspected sabotage attack with foreign involvement
Polish prosecutors are investigating a fire at WB Electronics factory in Skarżysko-Kamienna as a terrorist offence. Foreign intelligence services are suspected of involvement.
Fire at Polish drone maker investigated as terrorist act with foreign service involvement
Polish prosecutors are investigating a fire early Monday at a facility of WB Electronics company in Skarżysko-Kamienna as a "terrorist offence", suspecting the involvement of a foreign intelligence service, according to News.ro citing POLITICO and TVP World.
WB Electronics is one of Poland's largest private defence manufacturers. The company produces reconnaissance drones and "loitering" munitions — kamikaze drones — including the FlyEye and Warmate models, used by Ukraine in its conflict with Russian forces.
The fire broke out shortly after midnight and was extinguished in approximately two hours, thanks to the rapid intervention of an employee and firefighters. According to WB Electronics, no person was injured, though a small facility suffered damage.
Prosecutors from the Cracow branch of Poland's National Prosecutor's Office stated, in a statement issued Monday afternoon, that they suspect the facility was attacked by "placing a device containing flammable materials" on the factory premises. The alleged perpetrator of the fire remains at large.
Series of attacks targeting European defence industry
The incident comes amid a series of alleged attacks directed at critical infrastructure linked to European military support for Ukraine — attacks that Western authorities increasingly attribute to Russia.
Last week, Slovak police arrested three foreign nationals in connection with a plan to set fire to a drone factory. In early August, Estonian company Milrem Robotics was the target of an arson attack, with authorities investigating possible involvement by Moscow. Also in August, explosions were reported at major arms manufacturers in Italy and Bulgaria.
Early this month, an explosive-laden drone was discovered near a Ukrainian cargo aircraft at Leipzig/Halle Airport, a key hub for supplying military equipment to Ukraine. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz is set to announce Berlin's response to Moscow in the coming days.
Europe is on alert regarding hybrid warfare activities — including sabotage — since Russia's large-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Authorities have recorded hundreds of cases, many of them attributed to Russian agencies. Moscow has repeatedly denied the accusations, characterising the reports as anti-Russian propaganda.
Source: News.ro