A scheme involving self-igniting parcels sent throughout Europe has been tied to individuals suspected of working on behalf of Russia’s clandestine service. Authorities initiated an investigation after several parcels detonated in the UK, Germany, and Poland, causing disruptions to postal services handling the packages. Law enforcement identified 22 individuals in Lithuania and Poland allegedly linked to Russia’s military intelligence agency. The cases have been referred to court, with trials anticipated later this year.
In July 2024, four parcels were dispatched from Lithuania to locations in the UK and Poland. One parcel exploded in a UK warehouse, another ignited at Leipzig Airport before boarding, and a third caught fire in a truck in Poland. The suspected culprits received recruitment and instructions via an online messaging platform, often receiving payments in cryptocurrencies for their actions.
Authorities intercepted an intact parcel during the probe, enabling analysis of the device and its destructive potential. Additionally, two “test packages” were detected heading to the US and Canada, along with two parcels in Amsterdam destined for the same destinations. Eurojust spearheaded a collaborative investigation involving detectives from the UK, Germany, Lithuania, Poland, and the Netherlands to apprehend the group and thwart further attacks, with the UK investigation led by Counter Terrorism Policing London and the Crown Prosecution Service.
The terrorists, believed to have been recruited from Russia, Latvia, Estonia, Lithuania, and Ukraine, were commonly in vulnerable socio-economic circumstances, according to authorities. Allegedly acting on behalf of the military-intelligence service of the Russian Federation, the group’s activities were coordinated through Eurojust meetings, identifying links to other arson incidents and preparing cases for prosecution in Poland and Lithuania.
Eurojust remains actively engaged in investigating these illicit activities purportedly orchestrated by foreign intelligence services across Europe, seeking connections to related investigations and fostering cooperation among involved nations. A government representative emphasized the necessity of countering Russia’s hostile actions to safeguard national security, highlighting measures such as increased defence spending, expulsion of intelligence agents, sanctions on the GRU, financial restrictions, and prosecution of proxies to mitigate threats and ensure public safety.
