Russian spies are thought to have hidden an incendiary device inside a parcel loaded on a plane heading for Britain, before it dramatically burst into flames hours just later at a warehouse.
Counter-terrorism police are said to be investigating Russia’s involvement in the terrifying incident, which happened at a DHL centre in Minworth, Birmingham on July 22.
While no injuries were reported and the blaze was dealt with by staff and the local fire brigade investigators believe there could have been far more serious consequences had it ignited while in flight, The Guardian reports.
The revelation comes just a day after German intelligence warned a similar incident in Leipzig, also in late-July, came close to causing a fatal plane crash.
Thomas Haldenwang, head of Germany’s intelligence service, said on Tuesday that a disaster was narrowly averted after a parcel ignited on the ground at the DHL logistics centre in Leipzig rather than mid-air as intended.
Counter-terrorism police are investigating whether Russia was behind an incendiary device being hidden inside a package on a plane heading for Britain, before it burst into flames at this DHL centre in Minworth, Birmingham after landing
The revelation comes just a day after German intelligence warned a similar incident at a DHL centre in Leipzig (pictured), came close to causing a fatal plane crash
The plane had been delayed, with experts warning there could have been a very different outcome had it taken off on time.
It remains unclear who the parcel was sent to or the culprit behind the attack, though security services are working on the basis that Putin’s agents were involved in the near-crash.
Mr Haldenwang told a Bundestag committee that had the package ignited after the flight had taken off, the plane would have crashed.
Kremlin aggression is ‘putting people’s lives at risk’ as well as affecting ‘all areas of our free society’, he said.
The suspect package is believed to have been sent from Lithuania, before it exploded at the logistics centre, setting an entire freight container alight.
Germany’s foreign intelligence service chief Bruno Kahl said that Putin was likely to further ‘test the West’s red lines’, amid the increase in tensions between Russia and Nato over the despot’s invasion of Ukraine.
He said there was now a willingness at a ‘previously unknown level’ to attempt sabotage from the Kremlin.
It is unclear whether the plane targeted was a cargo or passenger aircraft.
Thomas Haldenwang, head of Germany ‘s intelligence service, said on Tuesday that a disaster was narrowly averted after a parcel ignited on the ground at the DHL logistics centre in Leipzig rather than mid-air as intended
Martina Rosenberg, the head of the military counter-intelligence service said that Moscow sought to use sabotage acts to ‘create a sense of instability’, the FT reported.
She added that the Kremlin was keen to find out information about German arms shipments, with the country being one of the largest providers of weapons to Ukraine.
Germany has also trained Ukrainian soldiers on western military equipment.
The incidents in Birmingham and Leipzig are thought to be part of a wider spate of attempts by Russian spies to ‘generate mayhem’, head of MI5 Ken McCullum has warned, while plots are being formed by other hostile state actors, including Iran, at a an ‘unprecedented pace’.
The incidents in Birmingham and Leipzig are thought to be part of a wider spate of attempts by Russian spies to ‘generate mayhem’, head of MI5 Ken McCullum has warned
Other countries in Europe reportedly recorded similar cases of packages containing incendiary devices, prompting a warning to aviation and logistics companies to sensitise their employees and take precautionary measures.
All of the parcels contained either electrical items or containers with liquids.
Investigators also said that the suspicious parcels often had high shipping costs which were ‘disproportionate to the value of the goods in the shipment.’
In March, a warehouse in east London belonging to a company with links to Ukraine caught fire in a a suspected Russian-linked attack in March.
Meanwhile in Germany a military base was the target of a suspected attempt to contaminate its drinking water in August.
US intelligence also uncovered a plot to murder Armin Papperger, the CEO of weapons manufacturer Rheinmetall, which has supplied vehicles and ammunition to Ukraine.
Russia was also accused of being behind a fire at a shopping centre in Warsaw by Polish prime minister Donald Tusk.
Last month, DHL said it had ‘taken measures’ in light of the incidents in the UK and Germany.
A DHL spokesperson said: ‘In response to ongoing investigations by authorities in several countries, DHL Express has taken measures in all European countries to protect its network, its employees and facilities, as well as its customers’ shipments.
‘We are aware of two recent incidents affecting shipments in our network.’
In regards to the incident in Birmingham, a Metropolitan police counter-terrorism spokesperson told MailOnline: ‘We can confirm that officers from counter-terrorism policing are investigating an incident at a commercial premises in Midpoint Way, Minworth.
‘On Monday 22 July, a package at the location caught alight. It was dealt with by staff and the local fire brigade at the time and there were no reports of any injuries or significant damage caused.’
‘Due to the circumstances, and the specialist capability and expertise in investigating such matters, the investigation is being led by officers from the Met’s Counter Terrorism Command with support from colleagues from Counter Terrorism Policing West Midlands.
‘The investigation remains ongoing and there have been no arrests in our investigation at this time.
‘As part of our enquiries, officers are liaising with other European law enforcement partners to identify whether this may or may not be connected to any other similar-type incidents across Europe.’
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