The Japan Times - Romania holding suspected 'low-level agent' after pistols found near Berlin: Germany

Germany has faced a surge in attack plots, sabotage and espionage cases, with suspicion often falling on Russia due to Germany's support for Ukraine in its fight against Russia's invasion.

While he avoided naming Moscow, Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt said involvement of a "foreign power" could not be ruled out in the weapons case, adding that federal prosecutors were investigating.

He said it was another "hybrid threat" to emerge in Germany, a term that Berlin uses to describe hostile acts of aggression short of unambiguous military attacks.

After a tipoff, intelligence services and police found two handguns and ammunition stashed in a hideout in the forest, Dobrindt said.

The weapons were rendered inoperable and the site was monitored to see if anyone collecte them, but no one did.

Subsequent investigations, which involved countries in Europe and elsewhere, led to the arrest of the suspect in Romania, who is being investigated by German prosecutors for allegedly preparing attacks and suspected espionage.

German authorities assume the weapons were linked to an attack plan, said Dobrindt, but gave no details about what might have been the target.

"These weapons that were found, including the ammunition, were certainly intended to be used to carry out attack plans," he said.

The suspect, a "low-level agent," was also under investigation in Romania for attack plans, which could have been carried out using parcel bombs, Dobrindt added.

German authorities have accused Russia of recruiting "low-level" or "disposable" agents, often people who are paid small sums of money and have little training, to carry out sabotage, espionage and attacks.

Dobrindt refused to disclose the nationality of the suspect in Romania, citing the investigation.

- 'Vigilant' to growing threats -

Dobrindt emphasised the case highlighted that "we are vigilant when it comes to hybrid threats... We are successfully countering espionage, sabotage and covert operations linked to hybrid threats."

Greens MP Konstantin von Notz, vice-chairman of the intelligence oversight committee, singled out Russia however.

“The latest discovery is yet another indication of how Russia has long been acting with hostility towards us -- and how urgently decisive responses are needed," he told the Rheinische Post daily.

"For many months now, espionage, sabotage and extremely far-reaching attempts to exert influence have been part of everyday life."

The weapons discovery is the latest in a series of security incidents in Germany.

An explosive-laden drone was found this month at Leipzig airport, a key logistics hub for weapons sent to Ukraine, and police deployed a bomb-disposal robot to remove the detonator.

The BfV has warned for some time that Russia could carry out attacks on defence industry executives, opposition figures in exile, and supporters of Ukraine.

Alleged assassination plots are said to have targeted Armin Papperger, CEO of defence giant Rheinmetall, as well as Stefan Thumann, head of drone maker Donaustahl.

M.Yamazaki--JT