Russia ‘suspected of planting bomb’ on plane to UK that caused warehouse fire

October 16, 2024, 8:12 pm

Russia is suspected of “planting a bomb” on a plane to Britain that later caught fire at a DHL warehouse in Birmingham.

Anti-terrorism police are investigating whether the fire has links to the Kremlin, according to reports.

No one was injured in the July 22 fire at a warehouse in the Birmingham suburb of Minworth, which was put out by local firefighters.

These reports come just days after a similar incident in Leipzig, Germany, where a device intended to be placed on a plane caught fire at a different DHL facility.

Read more: Zelenskyy says he wants Ukraine to join NATO as he reveals ‘victory plan’ for war with Russia

“We can confirm that counter-terrorism officers are investigating an incident at a business premises in Midpoint Way, Minworth,” a Metropolitan Police spokesperson told the Guardian.

“On Monday, July 22, a package caught fire at the location. The issue was attended to by staff and the local fire department at the time and there were no reports of injuries or significant damage caused.”

Counter-terrorism police fear these incidents are part of a wider campaign carried out by Russian spies across Europe.

Thomas Haldenwang, head of Germany’s national intelligence services, revealed the Leipzig incident earlier this week.

“We are observing aggressive behavior by the Russian intelligence services (i.e.) putting people’s lives at risk. It affects every area of ​​our free society,” Haldenwang said.

It is not immediately apparent what Putin’s army of spies could hope to achieve if they planted these devices.

“Officers are liaising with other European law enforcement partners to identify whether or not this may be linked to any other incidents of a similar type across Europe,” the Met police spokesperson added.