Attacks, sabotage... An attack by Russia feared by European intelligence

Several states, including France, have been alerted by German intelligence services to the "imminence" of several attacks "with a high potential for human and material damage", announces the Financial Times.

Europe on its guard. This Sunday, May 5, 2024, the head of the German domestic intelligence service Thomas Haldenwang would have warned his French, Swedish and British counterparts of a “risk of acts of sabotage initiated by the Russian state” which “has increased considerably” . The Financial Times reveals that Russia is reportedly considering stepping up its efforts to carry out clandestine bombings, arson attacks and damage to infrastructure on European soil. The German official insists on the “imminence” of several attacks “with a high potential for human and material damage”. The Kremlin would then confirm its direct involvement in a conflict with the West.

In fact, certain elements suggest that the operation to destabilize Russia has already begun. The British economic daily first mentions the fire in a warehouse in the United Kingdom containing cargo destined for Ukraine. Additionally, two German-Russian nationals were arrested for planning attacks against military and logistics sites.

“Russia has already begun to more actively prepare for clandestine bombings, arson attacks and damage to infrastructure on European soil, directly or through proxies,” explains the British media. In Sweden, a series of train derailments worries the authorities. The latter suspect the Kremlin of acts of sabotage. Similar events on the Czech railways and attacks on certain vehicles of civil servants in Estonia are pushing the European authorities even more to be vigilant.

For Keir Giles, consultant specializing in Russia at the Chatham House think tank, "the obvious conclusion is that there has been a major intensification of Russian activity" he assures in the Financial Times. On the other hand, "it is impossible to say whether this is because the Russians are devoting more resources to it, whether they are more careless and getting caught, or whether Western counterintelligence has simply become better at detecting and stopping these activities" he concludes. NATO has already warned of Russia's "malicious activities" on European soil. The organization calls for vigilance on operations dictated by the Kremlin, both small and large scale.