Latest news with #AdamBodnar
Yahoo
12-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Tusk says Russia ordered 2024 arson attack on Warsaw shopping centre
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said on May 11 that Russian intelligence services ordered a May 2024 arson attack on the Marywilska shopping centre in Warsaw. "We now know for sure that the great fire of the Marywilska shopping centre in Warsaw was caused by arson ordered by the Russian special services," Tusk on X. "Some of the perpetrators have already been detained, all the others are identified and searched for." "We have in-depth knowledge of the order and course of the arson and the way in which the perpetrators documented it. Their actions were organized and directed by an identified person staying in the Russian Federation," Polish Justice Minister Adam Bodnar and Interior Minister Tomasz Siemoniak in another statement. On May 12, 2024, a massive fire destroyed a shopping center in Warsaw which houses approximately 1,400 stores. Western intelligence officials have reportedly warned about increasing Russian sabotage operations across Europe. Arson attacks have previously targeted other EU countries, raising suspicions of a coordinated Russian effort to destabilize the countries that support Ukraine against Russian aggression. Polish authorities are cooperating with Lithuania, where the detained suspects allegedly carried out additional sabotage attacks. Lithuanian authorities previously said they suspect Russia's intelligence services of orchestrating arson attacks on an IKEA warehouse in Vilnius, and had also linked Russia to the Warsaw shopping center attack. The attack on the Ikea warehouse caused an estimated 500,000 euros ($545,000) in damage. No additional details were provided by officials as to the details surrounding the investigation into the fire, nor on the suspects detained. A number of suspected spy networks, allegedly run by Minsk and Moscow, have been uncovered in Poland over the past years. Dutch military intelligence agency MIVD said on April 22 that Russia is stepping up its hybrid attacks aimed at European allies. "We see that the Russian threat against Europe is increasing, including after a possible end of the war against Ukraine," MIVD director Peter Reesink said in the agency's annual report. Read also: Russia intensifying hybrid attacks against Europe, Dutch intelligence saysWe've been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Daily Maverick
12-05-2025
- Politics
- Daily Maverick
Poland says Russian secret service behind 2024 fire in Warsaw shopping centre
'We already know for sure that the large fire on Marywilska was the result of arson ordered by Russian services. The actions were coordinated by a person staying in Russia. Some of the perpetrators are already in custody, the rest have been identified and are being sought,' Tusk said on X. Poland has been a target of sabotage actions, which officials said have been part of a 'hybrid war' being waged by Russia to destabilize the functioning of countries that support Ukraine in the war with Russia, involving tactics like arson and cyberattacks. Polish investigators are cooperating with authorities in Lithuania, where some of the perpetrators also carried out sabotage activities, Justice Minister Adam Bodnar and Interior Minister Tomasz Siemoniak said in a separate statement. 'We have in-depth knowledge of the order and course of the arson and the way in which the perpetrators documented it. Their actions were organized and directed by an identified person staying in the Russian Federation,' they said. 'The Polish authorities are determined to hold accountable the perpetrators of the heinous acts of sabotage and those who directed them.' In March, Lithuanian prosecutors accused Russia's military intelligence of orchestrating an arson attack on an IKEA store in Vilnius, which broke out three days before the shopping centre fire in neighboring Poland. Russia has denied involvement in the arson attacks.
Japan Today
11-05-2025
- Politics
- Japan Today
Poland blames Russian intelligence for arson attack on Warsaw shopping center last year
By VANESSA GERA A massive fire that destroyed a large shopping center in Warsaw last year was the result of arson ordered by Russian intelligence services, Polish officials said Sunday on the eve of the one-year anniversary of the blaze. The fire broke out May 12, 2024, in the Marywilska 44 shopping that housed some 1,400 shops and service points. Many of the vendors were from Vietnam, and it inflicted tragedy on many in Warsaw's Vietnamese community. 'We now know for certain that the massive fire on Marywilska was the result of arson commissioned by Russian services,' Prime Minister Donald Tusk said on X. 'The actions were coordinated by a person residing in Russia. Some of the perpetrators are already in custody, while the rest have been identified and are being sought. We will catch them all!' In a joint statement, Justice Minister Adam Bodnar and Interior Minister Tomasz Siemoniak said the May 12, 2024, blaze gutted 1,400 shops and service points. Authorities have been investigating the incident for a year, with support from police and the Internal Security Agency. Officials said the arson was part of a coordinated sabotage campaign directed from Russia. Some perpetrators are in custody, while others have been identified and are being sought. Polish authorities are also cooperating with Lithuania, where some suspects allegedly carried out related activities. The investigation involved 121 days of site inspections and the work of 55 prosecutors and 100 police officers. More than 70 witnesses and over 500 victims were interviewed. 'We are determined to hold accountable those responsible for these disgraceful acts of sabotage,' the ministers said. The announcement comes amid rising concerns in Europe over Russian attempts to destabilize the region through covert operations. Russia has in the past denied allegations that it is orchestrating arson and sabotage operations across Europe. © Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
CNN
11-05-2025
- Politics
- CNN
Poland blames Russian intelligence for arson attack on Warsaw shopping center last year
A massive fire that destroyed a large shopping center in Warsaw last year was the result of arson ordered by Russian intelligence services, Polish officials said Sunday on the eve of the one-year anniversary of the blaze. The fire broke out May 12, 2024, in the Marywilska 44 shopping that housed some 1,400 shops and service points. Many of the vendors were from Vietnam, and it inflicted tragedy on many in Warsaw's Vietnamese community. 'We now know for certain that the massive fire on Marywilska was the result of arson commissioned by Russian services,' Prime Minister Donald Tusk said on X. 'The actions were coordinated by a person residing in Russia. Some of the perpetrators are already in custody, while the rest have been identified and are being sought. We will catch them all!' In a joint statement, Justice Minister Adam Bodnar and Interior Minister Tomasz Siemoniak said the May 12, 2024, blaze gutted 1,400 shops and service points. Authorities have been investigating the incident for a year, with support from police and the Internal Security Agency. Poland not only shares a border with Ukraine, it also shares the wish that Russia will ultimately not win the war. Polish president Andrzej Duda tells CNN's Becky Anderson about the future of the conflict. Officials said the arson was part of a coordinated sabotage campaign directed from Russia. Some perpetrators are in custody, while others have been identified and are being sought. Polish authorities are also cooperating with Lithuania, where some suspects allegedly carried out related activities. The investigation involved 121 days of site inspections and the work of 55 prosecutors and 100 police officers. More than 70 witnesses and over 500 victims were interviewed. 'We are determined to hold accountable those responsible for these disgraceful acts of sabotage,' the ministers said. The announcement comes amid rising concerns in Europe over Russian attempts to destabilize the region through covert operations. Russia has in the past denied allegations that it is orchestrating arson and sabotage operations across Europe.
CNN
11-05-2025
- Politics
- CNN
Poland blames Russian intelligence for arson attack on Warsaw shopping center last year
A massive fire that destroyed a large shopping center in Warsaw last year was the result of arson ordered by Russian intelligence services, Polish officials said Sunday on the eve of the one-year anniversary of the blaze. The fire broke out May 12, 2024, in the Marywilska 44 shopping that housed some 1,400 shops and service points. Many of the vendors were from Vietnam, and it inflicted tragedy on many in Warsaw's Vietnamese community. 'We now know for certain that the massive fire on Marywilska was the result of arson commissioned by Russian services,' Prime Minister Donald Tusk said on X. 'The actions were coordinated by a person residing in Russia. Some of the perpetrators are already in custody, while the rest have been identified and are being sought. We will catch them all!' In a joint statement, Justice Minister Adam Bodnar and Interior Minister Tomasz Siemoniak said the May 12, 2024, blaze gutted 1,400 shops and service points. Authorities have been investigating the incident for a year, with support from police and the Internal Security Agency. Poland not only shares a border with Ukraine, it also shares the wish that Russia will ultimately not win the war. Polish president Andrzej Duda tells CNN's Becky Anderson about the future of the conflict. Officials said the arson was part of a coordinated sabotage campaign directed from Russia. Some perpetrators are in custody, while others have been identified and are being sought. Polish authorities are also cooperating with Lithuania, where some suspects allegedly carried out related activities. The investigation involved 121 days of site inspections and the work of 55 prosecutors and 100 police officers. More than 70 witnesses and over 500 victims were interviewed. 'We are determined to hold accountable those responsible for these disgraceful acts of sabotage,' the ministers said. The announcement comes amid rising concerns in Europe over Russian attempts to destabilize the region through covert operations. Russia has in the past denied allegations that it is orchestrating arson and sabotage operations across Europe.
