ALBAWABA - Two German-Russian men have been arrested on suspicion of spying for Russia and plotting strikes in Germany, especially on US army sites, to undermine military backing for Ukraine, authorities announced Thursday.
Dieter S. and Alexander J. were arrested in Bayreuth, southwestern Bavaria, on Wednesday, according to federal prosecutors.
Dieter S., the main perpetrator, is accused of scouting potential attack targets, "including facilities of the US armed forces" stationed in Germany. They are suspected of "having been active for a foreign intelligence service" in what prosecutors described as a "particularly serious case" of espionage.
According to authorities, Dieter S. has been exchanging information with a person connected to Russian intelligence services since October 2023, discussing potential acts of sabotage.
In addition, Interior Minister Nancy Faeser called the allegations "a particularly serious case of suspected agent activity for (Vladimir) Putin's criminal regime. "We will continue to thwart such threat plans," Faeser added, reaffirming Germany's unwavering support for Ukraine.
"We will continue to provide Ukraine with massive support and will not allow ourselves to be intimidated," Minister Faeser said.
The accused allegedly declared a willingness to "commit explosive and arson attacks, mainly on military infrastructure and industrial sites in Germany". Dieter S. gathered intelligence on prospective targets, "including facilities of the US armed forces".
"The actions were intended, in particular, to undermine the military support provided from Germany to Ukraine against the Russian aggression," prosecutors said.
According to Der Spiegel magazine, the military sites spied on included the United States Army base in Grafenwoehr, Bavaria. "Among other things, there is an important military training area there where the US army trains Ukrainian soldiers, for example on Abrams battle tanks," the German weekly news magazine.
Germany has been stunned by multiple examples of alleged Russian eavesdropping since the invasion of Ukraine in 2022, with some German officials accused of being too close to Moscow in the past.
A former German intelligence official is on trial in Berlin, accused of transmitting material to Moscow indicating that Germany had knowledge of Russian mercenary operations in Ukraine. He rejects the charges.
