Germany seeks extradition of suspect held in Romania, accused of hiding weapons near Berlin for Russian services
German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt confirms that Berlin is in contact with Romania regarding a possible extradition of the suspect. The man allegedly set up a weapons cache in a forest in the Berlin-Brandenburg area on Moscow's orders.
Suspect held in Romania, sought by Germany for concealing weapons intended for Russian operations
Germany is seeking the extradition of a man arrested in Romania, suspected of setting up a weapons cache in a forest in the border area between Berlin and the state of Brandenburg, according to Google News RO — Crime. German services believe the depot was prepared on the orders of Russian secret services.
"We are in close contact with Romania regarding a possible extradition," said German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt on Friday. He specified that the suspect is also being investigated in connection with plans to carry out letter-bomb attacks on Romanian territory, according to Reuters. Dobrindt provided no further details about these plans. "We will establish, in the course of the investigation, what measures can be taken against this person," the minister added.
The case came to light following an investigation by German newspaper Süddeutsche Zeitung. German authorities were alerted in the summer of last year to the professionally set up cache in the forest. Two pistols and ammunition were discovered inside. The suspect held in Romania has been identified as the person who prepared this depot.
The German Federal Prosecutor's Office is investigating the case on suspicion of preparing a serious act of violence that threatened state security. The German domestic intelligence service, BfV, assesses that the weapons depot was set up on Moscow's orders.
According to press reports, the weapons were intended to reach agents tasked with "kinetic operations" — physical attacks, as opposed to classical espionage or influence operations. Possible targets reportedly included managers of companies in the defence industry, Russian opposition figures in exile, and supporters of Ukraine. Süddeutsche Zeitung mentions that the weapons could have been used for assassinations carried out in the name of Russian services.
Dobrindt has not officially confirmed Russian involvement, but neither has he ruled it out. "Can we rule out the involvement of foreign powers in this case? No," said the minister, quoted by The Guardian. He stressed that the situation reflects a high level of threat facing Germany. The minister described the man held in Romania as a low-level agent, used to carry out operations without a direct official link to those ordering them.
The case fits into a broader context of alert in Berlin. In October last year, Romania's Intelligence Service announced the thwarting of a sabotage attempt orchestrated by Russia on Romanian territory: two Ukrainian citizens, coordinated by Russian secret services, intended to set fire to a NOVA POST courier company office in Bucharest.
Germany has long warned of intensifying Russian espionage, sabotage and destabilisation operations. The frequency of these warnings has increased following the invasion of Ukraine, as Berlin has positioned itself as one of Kyiv's principal military supporters.
Source: Google News RO — Crime (ro)