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Germany arrests two for alleged military sabotage plot on behalf of Russia

Two German-Russian nationals have been arrested in Bavaria on suspicion of spying for Russia and planning acts of sabotage to undermine military support for Ukraine, German federal prosecutors said Thursday. The two men, identified only as Dieter S. and Alexander J., were arrested in the city of Bayreuth on Wednesday, prosecutors said. They are accused of scouting potential targets for attacks, "including facilities of the US armed forces" stationed in Germany.

Reuters WORLD
Published April 18,2024
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Two German-Russian nationals have been arrested in Germany for allegedly plotting sabotage attacks, including on U.S. military facilities, designed to undermine military support for Ukraine, the German prosecutors said on Thursday.

Authorities have searched the homes and workplaces of the two suspects, who are accused of working for a foreign secret service, the prosecutor's office said in a statement.

One of the suspects, identified as Dieter S., had since October 2023 discussed possible plots with a person linked to the Russian secret service, the statement said.

Dieter S. had been prepared to carry out bomb and arson attacks on military facilities, including those operated by U.S. forces, the statement said.

According to Spiegel magazine, the facilities included the Grafenwoehr army base in the southern state of Bavaria where Ukrainian soldiers receive training to use U.S. Abrams tanks.

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

"The actions were intended in particular to undermine the military support provided by Germany to Ukraine against the Russian war of aggression," the statement by German prosecutors said.