Gun Stash Near Berlin Linked to Suspected Russian Plot

German security authorities discovered handguns stashed in a forest near Berlin last year and believe the weapons were intended for assassinations carried out on behalf of Russian intelligence, Süddeutsche Zeitung reported on Friday.

The report, published together with the broadcasters NDR and WDR, cited unspecified sources and said prosecutors were investigating the case under allegations relating to planning serious violence that could pose a threat to the state.

The Russian embassy did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Weapons Found Near Berlin

Süddeutsche Zeitung said German investigators uncovered the weapons in the forest near Berlin last year. The newspaper did not specify where exactly in the area the cache was located, or provide additional details about the handguns beyond describing them as firearms stored for operational use.

The report said federal authorities regarded the stash as connected to a wider effort they believed involved Russian services.

Investigation And Suspected Set-Up

According to Süddeutsche Zeitung, one suspect was arrested in Romania and may have been involved in arranging the storage of the weapons.

The federal public prosecutor’s office is investigating the matter on suspicion of planning a serious act of violence that would pose a threat to the state, the report said. It added that Germany’s domestic intelligence service had been warning of a higher risk of Russian sabotage or assassination attempts.

The newspaper reported that the domestic intelligence service was convinced that those responsible for setting up the weapons cache were acting on instructions from Russian services.

Prosecutors and the domestic intelligence service declined to comment on the allegations.

Possible Assassination Targets

The report said the domestic intelligence service assessed that the planned violence could have been aimed at people connected to Germany’s defence sector, including defence industry executives.

It also said possible targets included exiled opposition figures and supporters of Ukraine.

Süddeutsche Zeitung did not name any individuals and did not provide further information about any confirmed links between the weapons cache and the people investigators believed could have been targeted. It also did not specify whether charges had been brought against any of the suspects.

Russia’s embassy had not responded to a request for comment at the time of publication.

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21 August 2026