Parcel bombs discovered in warehouses in Britain and Germany were allegedly a rehearsal for a Russian-backed attack on flights to the United States, Polish authorities have claimed.
The revelation comes after five individuals were arrested in connection with explosions at DHL facilities in Birmingham and Leipzig in July.
The devices, disguised as electric massage machines, contained a magnesium-based substance capable of bringing down an aircraft.
Poland’s foreign intelligence agency suspects Russian involvement in the plot.
Parcel bombs discovered in warehouses in Britain and Germany were allegedly a rehearsal for a Russian-backed attack on flights to the United States, Polish authorities have claimedReuters/ Google maps
Counter-terrorism police are investigating the incidents, which they fear may be part of a wider campaign by Russian spies across Europe.
The Kremlin has denied these allegations, dismissing them as “unsubstantiated insinuations from the media”.
The fires occurred at DHL warehouses in Minworth, a suburb of Birmingham, and Leipzig, Germany, in July.
Staff and local fire brigades dealt with the incidents at the time, with no reported injuries or significant damage.
Polish authorities claim these events were a test run for sending similar parcels to the United States and Canada.
Pawel Szota, head of Poland’s foreign intelligence agency, expressed concern about the potential consequences.
“I’m not sure the political leaders of Russia are aware of the consequences if one of these packages exploded, causing a mass casualty event,” Szota told the Wall Street Journal.
Thomas Haldenwang, chief of Germany’s domestic intelligence services, warned: “We are observing aggressive behaviour by the Russian intelligence services [that is] putting people’s lives at risk. It affects all areas of our free society.”
The Polish national prosecutor’s office added: “The group’s goal was to test the transfer channel for such parcels, which were ultimately to be sent to the United States of America and Canada.”
Counter-terrorism police are investigating the incidents.
A Met police spokesperson said: “Officers are liaising with other European law enforcement partners to identify whether this may or may not be connected to any other similar-type incidents across Europe.”
The Kremlin has strongly denied any involvement in the alleged plot.
Dmitry Peskov, the Kremlin spokesperson, dismissed the claims as “traditional unsubstantiated insinuations from the media.”
Despite the denial, investigations are ongoing.