Russian Spooks Suspected in European Air Freight Sabotage
An international police probe has uncovered suspected Russian military intelligence links to a string of suspicious incidents targeting air freight hubs across Europe.
Package Explodes in Birmingham Depot
Counter Terrorism Policing London stepped in after a package ignited at a Minworth, Birmingham depot on 22 July 2024. Detectives took charge and quickly connected this to other similar sabotage cases across the continent.
Man Arrested Over Intelligence Links
On 19 March 2025, authorities arrested a 38-year-old Romanian man on suspicion of assisting a foreign intelligence service under the National Security Act 2023. Though he’s now released, the investigation is ongoing.
UK and European Police Join Forces
Deputy Assistant Commissioner Vicki Evans praised European partners, saying:
“The work of our European counterparts has been truly remarkable and shows why cross-border cooperation is vital. Together, we have identified what we believe to be Russian military intelligence involvement in these incidents.”
“Our investigation is ongoing. We’re working round the clock with partners to keep the public and freight sector safe.”
“Foreign state activity in the UK is rising and our teams are stepping up efforts to disrupt threats to national security.”
The investigation continues with close coordination between UK agencies, European police, the Crown Prosecution Service, and the affected freight carriers.
