"This case demonstrates that we are operating under a high threat level," said Dobrindt at a press conference, adding that he could not rule out the involvement of foreign powers. German security authorities discovered handguns stashed in a forest near Berlin last year and believe the weapons were to be used to carry out assassinations on behalf of Russian intelligence, Sueddeutsche Zeitung reported on Friday. The Russian embassy did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The newspaper's report, published jointly with broadcasters NDR and WDR on Friday, cited unspecified sources as saying that one suspect had been arrested in Romania and may have been responsible for setting up the weapons storage. The Federal Public Prosecutor's Office is investigating the case on suspicion of planning of a serious act of violence posing a threat to the state, the report said. The paper said that Germany's domestic intelligence service, which has been warning of a heightened risk of Russian sabotage or assassination attempts, is convinced that those setting up the cache were acting on orders from Russian services.
Potential targets include defence industry executives, exiled opposition figures and supporters of Ukraine, the report said. The Federal Public Prosecutor and Germany's domestic intelligence service declined to comment. Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
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