Russia Allegedly Planted an Incendiary Device on Plane Causing a Fire in a UK Warehouse

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An incendiary device that ignited a fire at a DHL warehouse in Birmingham is suspected to be part of a broader Russian campaign aimed at sowing chaos across Europe. Counter-terrorism police are now investigating whether Russian spies planted the device on a plane bound for the UK, raising serious concerns about potential links to similar incidents across the continent. 

 

 

The fire, which occurred on July 22 at a DHL warehouse in Minworth, involved a parcel that is believed to have arrived by air. While it remains unclear whether the package came from a cargo or passenger aircraft, authorities are treating the situation with utmost seriousness. There were no injuries reported from the fire, and local fire brigades were able to contain the blaze before it spread. However, investigators are concerned about the devastating consequences had the device ignited mid-flight.

 

This incident has been linked to a similar event in Germany, where another suspect package caught fire in late July at a DHL facility in Leipzig. In that case, German authorities warned that the consequences could have been catastrophic. “Had the parcel caught fire mid-air it could have downed the plane,” said Thomas Haldenwang, head of Germany’s domestic intelligence service. Speaking to members of the German parliament, he noted, “If the Leipzig package had started burning during the flight, it would have resulted in a crash.”

 

Despite the gravity of these incidents, the fire at the Birmingham warehouse was not disclosed to the public until joint investigations by The Guardian and German broadcasters WDR and NDR brought it to light. This has raised questions about why British authorities chose to keep the incident under wraps for so long. A spokesperson for the Metropolitan Police confirmed that counter-terrorism officers were investigating the event, saying, “On Monday 22 July, a package at the location caught alight. It was dealt with by staff and the local fire brigade at the time, and there were no reports of any injuries or significant damage caused.”

 

British intelligence services suspect that the incendiary devices are part of a larger campaign orchestrated by Russian spies. Ken McCallum, head of MI5, recently highlighted the threat, stating that Russia’s GRU military intelligence appears to be on “a sustained mission to generate mayhem on British and European streets.” He further elaborated, “We’ve seen arson, sabotage, and more,” warning that these “dangerous actions” were becoming increasingly reckless. McCallum emphasized that these operations, rather than serving the Kremlin’s goals, were driving closer collaboration among European intelligence services.

 

Though Russia often denies its involvement in such plots, accusing Western nations of conspiracy theories, these recent events point to an intensification of its sabotage activities. A warehouse linked to Ukraine in East London was set ablaze in a suspected arson attack in March, and in Warsaw, a shopping center was destroyed by fire in May. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk suggested that Russian operatives were likely responsible for the attack.

 

The most serious plot uncovered so far involved an attempt to assassinate Armin Papperger, the CEO of German arms manufacturer Rheinmetall. US intelligence reportedly foiled this plan, further illustrating the growing boldness of Russian operations in Europe.

 

As the investigation into the Birmingham fire continues, British authorities are working closely with their European counterparts to determine if these events are connected. A spokesperson for the West Midlands police confirmed that officers are liaising with European law enforcement partners to examine potential links. Meanwhile, DHL has stated that it is taking steps to secure its network and protect its staff, describing the ongoing investigations as involving authorities from several countries.

 

The motives behind these plots remain unclear, particularly in cases where they could have caused large-scale international condemnation. However, what is evident is that the actions are contributing to increased alarm among Western intelligence agencies, as they continue to grapple with Russia’s increasingly aggressive behavior.

 

Based on a report from the Guardian 2024-10-18

 

 

 

[Snackbar]

150 million suspects

[john donson]

went true airport security, twice ?

 

blame russia for nothing and everything...

[AndreasHG]

It's a sign of Putin's desperation.

His most concrete hope is that Trump wins in November. If Trump loses, Putin loses with him...

 

[Cameroni]

Where is the evidence?

 

Nothing then?

[NativeBob]

was it Novichok?