Polish prosecutors said on Friday that Russian intelligence services were likely behind a series of packages that exploded at courier warehouses across Europe, pointing the finger at Moscow in a case that officials say may have caused an air disaster.
Western officials have previously said that Russia tried to destabilize Ukraine’s allies through acts of sabotage. Explosions at courier warehouses in Britain, Germany and Poland in July could have represented a serious escalation by causing an aircraft to explode.
Security officials said the packages were part of a plot aimed ultimately at causing explosions on cargo flights bound for the United States and Canada.
“The evidence collected in the case indicates a high possibility that the acts of sabotage discussed… were inspired by Russian special services,” Polish Prosecutor General’s Office spokesman Przemyslaw Nowak said in an emailed statement.
The Russian embassy in Warsaw said in an email response to Reuters’ questions that the prosecutor’s allegations were “baseless and unjustified.” Russia has previously denied involvement.
Nowak said that Polish authorities are searching for two Russians and have arrested four Ukrainian citizens as part of the investigation.
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Polish prosecutors said in October that they had arrested four people and were looking for two more in connection with the packages, but did not reveal the nationalities of those accused of involvement.
In October, prosecutors said they were investigating the role of “foreign intelligence,” without explicitly mentioning Russia.
“Intensive activities are being carried out to identify the remaining individuals involved in the above-mentioned international group,” Nowak said in the statement sent on Friday.
“These measures are being carried out in cooperation with law enforcement agencies in other EU countries.”
He said that the explosive packages were sent from the Lithuanian capital, Vilnius.
—Reporting by Barbara Erling and writing by Alan Charlish; Edited by Ross Russell
