Poland makes 4 arrests in alleged espionage and sabotage cases
Polish security services have arrested a man suspected of trying to obtain photos of military vehicles crossing the border into Ukraine as well as three men accused of committing arson on the orders of Russian intelligence, authorities said on Wednesday, Reuters reports.
The Russian embassy in Warsaw did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Moscow has previously dismissed allegations of involvement in such sabotage.
Poland has recently seen a series of major fires, including one that destroyed Warsaw’s largest shopping centre. Prime Minister Donald Tusk last week said that it was “likely” Russia was involved in that latter incident.
Earlier this week, foreign minister Radosław Sikorski announced that Poland was restricting the movements of Russian diplomats on its territory due to Moscow’s involvement in “hybrid” attacks, especially sabotage activities.
Yesterday, prosecutors who were investigating those fires announced that they have charged five people with “participation in an organised criminal group aimed at committing a terrorist offence”. However, it did not identify their nationalities nor specifically mention the involvement of Russia.
