UPDATE 2 - 2 suspected Russian spies arrested in Germany over alleged sabotage plans

UPDATES WITH MORE DETAILS

By Anadolu staff

BERLIN (AA) - German security forces arrested two suspected Russian spies for planning sabotage operations within the country, authorities said on Thursday.

Both suspects were German-Russian dual citizens and allegedly involved in plans to attack military infrastructure and industrial sites, according to a statement by the Federal Prosecutor's Office.

"The actions were intended in particular to undermine the military support provided by Germany to Ukraine against the Russian war of aggression," the prosecutors said.

The main suspect, Dieter S., had collected information about potential attack targets, including US military facilities in Germany, the investigators said.

The 39-year-old was in contact with a person tied to a Russian secret service, and since October 2023, they have discussed possible sabotage actions in Germany, according to the investigators.

“The accused declared to his interlocutor that he was prepared to carry out arson and explosive attacks, primarily on military infrastructure and industrial sites in Germany,” the Federal Prosecutor's Office said.

The suspect allegedly monitored potential targets on site, taking photos and videos of military equipment and their transfer routes, and passed the information on to the Russian secret service.

His friend Alexander J. assisted him during some of these activities, according to the prosecutors.

German public broadcaster ARD reported that the two suspects had in the past traveled to Ukraine’s breakaway Donetsk region to support separatist paramilitaries, and it was supposed that they knew each other from that time.

The main suspect, identified as Dieter S., was also accused by prosecutors of being a member of a paramilitary group in the breakaway Donetsk region, and he was suspected of receiving military training there between 2014 and 2016.

The suspects were arrested in the southern German city of Bayreuth on Wednesday, and the police carried out searches in their homes and workplace, seizing various documents and electronic devices.