Poland’s Prime Minister, Donald Tusk, has accused Russia of planning a series of “acts of terrorism in the air,” including a wave of firebomb attacks that could have downed planes mid-flight across the globe. Tusk’s statement referenced a series of incendiary parcel attacks in Poland, Germany, and the UK that had taken place over the summer, which are now believed to have been part of a broader Russian plot.
Tusk described how Warsaw had been engaged in counteracting “acts of sabotage” orchestrated by Russia. The Polish prime minister did not elaborate further, but confirmed that the firebomb attacks were not only targeted at Poland but were part of a wider campaign.
Incendiary Parcel Attacks
Incendiary devices were discovered in parcels in several locations, including at a warehouse in Birmingham, UK, and on the tarmac at Leipzig airport in Germany, in July. The parcels in question were reportedly intended for air travel—one caught fire after being loaded onto a plane in Birmingham, while the other was about to be placed on a flight in Leipzig.
In addition to these two incidents, another device was found in Poland. Investigators and intelligence officials from Western nations suspect that these crude firebomb attacks, delivered through the postal system, were a trial run for future, more destructive terrorist operations, possibly aimed at the United States.
According to reports in the New York Times, US intelligence reviewed intercepted communications among senior Russian GRU military intelligence officials, suggesting that the incendiary devices were intended as a test for a potential attack on the US. In response, senior US officials reportedly warned Russian President Vladimir Putin that the US would hold Moscow accountable for any terrorist activities emanating from these plots.
Security Weakness and International Warnings
The devices, which were sent from Lithuania, were disguised in innocuous items like massagers. The simplicity of the method revealed potential vulnerabilities in the security systems used by parcel courier services. While security measures have since been tightened, authorities have not publicly detailed the exact steps taken to prevent further attacks.
The incident at Leipzig highlighted the seriousness of the threat. According to Thomas Haldenwang, the head of Germany’s domestic intelligence agency, had the Leipzig parcel ignited while in flight, it could have led to a catastrophic crash. Photographs from the Birmingham incident, published by The Guardian in December, show the moment when a parcel, carried by an electric vehicle, erupted into flames, suggesting a similar threat in the air.
The incendiary devices appear to have been made with magnesium, a highly flammable material that creates fires difficult to extinguish, especially if water is applied. Air crews, under pressure in an emergency, may not have been equipped to deal with such a fire without the proper extinguishing agents, which are typically dry powder-based.
Russian Denials
Despite mounting evidence pointing to Russia’s involvement, Moscow has denied any responsibility for the incendiary parcel attacks, along with other similar incidents of arson, break-ins, and attacks on individuals, which Western officials attribute to operatives paid by the Russian government.
The accusations and the growing international concern reflect increasing tensions between Russia and the West, with Moscow facing accusations of orchestrating terror-like tactics to destabilize regions and threaten international security.
BY – KARTIK
