Latest news with #NationalProsecutor'sOffice
Euronews
12-08-2025
- Politics
- Euronews
Poland charges suspect over parcel bomb amid Russia sabotage fears
Polish prosecutors have charged one person over an alleged parcel bomb plot that also involves two Russian suspects, at a time when European governments are on high alert over acts of sabotage attributed to Moscow. Poland's Internal Security Agency (ABW) said on Monday that an indictment was filed in the central town of Piotrków Trybunalski against Kristina S, a citizen of Ukraine. The accused — whose full name and age were not disclosed — was charged with being complicit in causing an immediate danger of an explosion, the ABW said. She faces up to eight years in jail if found guilty. In July 2024, Kristina S sent a package containing explosives via a courier company, according to the ABW. The package contained "explosives in the form of nitroglycol, as well as hidden military-grade electric fuses, an initiating device, a metal thermos with a shaped charge insert, and powdered aluminium," the agency said. "This structure constituted a so-called shaped charge bomb," it added. The parcel was discovered and secured in a large warehouse of the courier company in Poland's central Łódź province, the authorities said. "In the event of an explosion, the shipment could have caused significant damage to critical infrastructure, piercing sensitive fuel tanks, building ceilings or strong steel structures," said a statement by the National Prosecutor's Office. Kristina S is accused of committing the alleged offence along with another Ukrainian citizen and two Russian citizens. Two individuals have been placed under preventive detention in connection with the case, according to Polish prosecutors. Polish officials say the country is the target of espionage and hybrid war attacks initiated by Moscow that have grown more serious since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Earlier this year, Poland's interior ministry said the ABW had detained at least 44 people on suspicion of espionage or sabotage for Russia or Belarus in Poland since the start of the all-out war. Among them are Russians, Belarusians, Ukrainians and Poles, the ministry said. More broadly, security agencies across Europe have accused Russia of staging dozens of attacks and other sabotage incidents on the continent since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in early 2022, often using people with passports other than Russian for its malign activities, such as Bulgarian, Moldovan or Ukrainian. In July last year, there was a series of parcel fires targeting courier companies in Poland, Germany and the UK. Western officials blamed the incidents on the Kremlin. Moscow has repeatedly denied such allegations, despite a slew of evidence and court cases proving otherwise. In one example, a London court in March convicted a group of Bulgarians living in the UK of spying for Russia and plotting to assassinate or kidnap Kristo Grozev, a Bulgarian journalist and former lead Russia investigator with Bellingcat.
Yahoo
11-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Man arrested in Poland on suspicion of spying for Russia
Polish law enforcement has detained a man accused of espionage on behalf of Russia. Source: National Prosecutor's Office of Poland, as reported by European Pravda Details: The Mazovian branch of Poland's National Prosecutor's Office has reported the arrest of 28-year-old Viktor Z., who is suspected of passing information to Russian intelligence that could harm Poland's national security. On the prosecutor's request, he was arrested on 4 June, and searches were conducted at several locations in the Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship. Viktor Z. has been charged with espionage under Article 130 of Poland's Criminal Code. Investigators stated that between 28 February 2024 and 30 April 2025, the man obtained and transmitted classified information to Russia concerning Polish critical defence infrastructure. He is to face a lengthy prison sentence ranging from eight years to life. He is currently being held in custody for a period of three months. The investigation noted that his actions were motivated by pro-Russian views. Background: In late May, Germany charged three suspects with working for Russian intelligence. Investigators disclosed that they had been spying on a veteran who fought for Ukraine's defence forces. In Bavaria, a trial has begun for three individuals reportedly recruited by Russia to carry out sabotage operations in Germany. Earlier in May, German media reported on arrests in Germany and Switzerland of individuals suspected of attempting to send parcels containing explosive devices on instructions from Russian intelligence. The suspects are Ukrainian nationals. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Poland to try suspect in alleged Russian plot to assassinate Zelensky
Polish prosecutors have indicted a man charged with allegedly planning to assist Russian foreign intelligence in a possible assassination attempt on President Volodymyr Zelensky, authorities announced on May 20. The person charged, identified as Pawel K., was arrested on April 17, 2024 in Poland following a joint investigation by Polish and Ukrainian authorities. He faces up to eight years in prison, according to a from Poland's National Prosecutor's Office. According to investigators, Paweł K. expressed willingness to work for Russian military intelligence and established contact with Russian citizens directly involved in the in . His tasks included collecting and providing information on security at the Rzeszow-Jasionka Airport in southeastern , authorities said. The press release also said that Pawel K.'s activities "were to help, among other things, in planning by the Russian special services a possible assassination attempt on the life of... the President of Ukraine ." Poland, a staunch ally of Ukraine and key transit point for Western military aid to Ukraine, says it has become a major target for Russian espionage and destabilization efforts, including and . Most recently, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk for cyberattacks ahead of Poland's presidential elections on May 18. In September 2024, the Polish government also accused Moscow and its ally Belarus of waging a "" on Poland. Alongside its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the Kremlin has been accused of , , and across Europe. Read also: EU approves 17th package of Russia sanctions, targets shadow fleet We've been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Yahoo
10-04-2025
- Yahoo
Man arrested on suspicion of assisting foreign intelligence over parcel fire at DHL warehouse
Counter-terrorism police investigating a fire at a DHL warehouse in Birmingham have arrested a man on suspicion of assisting a foreign intelligence service. The said a 38-year-old Romanian national was detained at airport after flying into the UK on 19 March. (CTP) began an investigation after a package caught fire on 22 July at the warehouse in Minworth, near . Police confirmed "a package at the location caught alight" and it was "dealt with by staff and the local fire brigade at the time". No one was injured. It is understood that one potential line of enquiry is whether the incident . In November, officials stated they believed the fire could have been . Poland's National Prosecutor's Office confirmed they had made four arrests after parcels "containing explosives" were allegedly sent via courier companies to countries including the UK. At that same time, authorities were also investigating several fires thought to have been caused by incendiary devices hidden inside parcels at a warehouse in Leipzig in 2024. Read more from Sky News:On Thursday, police confirmed their "investigation remains ongoing", adding the man they arrested was "detained on suspicion of assisting a foreign intelligence service under the National Security Act". He was taken to a London police station and released on bail to a date in July. A spokesperson for DHL previously said: "DHL Express Europe is taking risk mitigation actions to secure its network, staff and assets as well as customer shipments by implementing strengthened security measures across the European countries as a reaction to ongoing investigations by authorities from several countries."
Yahoo
01-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Poland charges Ukrainian man with scouting Polish military facilities on behalf of Russia
WARSAW, Poland (AP) — Polish authorities said Tuesday they charged a 47-year-old Ukrainian citizen with working for Russian intelligence after he was discovered last month conducting reconnaissance of military facilities in Poland. The National Prosecutor's Office did not name the man but said that he was born in Russia, and that he was arrested and charged on March 20. The suspect's activities involved "reconnaissance of military facilities in Poland' on behalf of Russian intelligence, a crime punishable under Polish law by prison terms 5 to 30 years, the prosecutor's office said in a statement. The office added that the suspect explained that he had "ideological motives for his activities resulting from his ties with Russia.' Jacek Dobrzyński, spokesman for Poland's Interior Ministry and security services, said on X that the 47-year-old Ukrainian citizen was arrested by security agents in the Mazovian province near the capital, Warsaw, in central Poland. He told The Associated Press that the arrest was not announced immediately because certain steps had to be completed first, 'for the good of the investigation.' Polish officials say the country is the target of espionage and hybrid war attacks initiated by Moscow that have grown more serious since Russia's invasion of neighboring Ukraine. The Internal Security Agency has detained 44 people on suspicion of espionage or sabotage for Russia or Belarus in Poland since the start of war. Among them are Russians, Belarusians, Ukrainians and Poles, Dobrzyński said.
