Poland detains Ukrainian suspect wanted by Romania over alleged Russia-linked arson attack
- 25-year-old suspect detained in Warsaw under European Arrest Warrant over September fire near Romanian state-owned defense company
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- 25-year-old suspect detained in Warsaw under European Arrest Warrant over September fire near Romanian state-owned defense company
By Jo Harper
WARSAW (AA) - Polish police detained a Ukrainian citizen wanted by Romania over suspected involvement in an alleged Russia-coordinated sabotage network linked to an arson attack near a Romanian defense company, authorities said Wednesday.
Poland's Central Investigation Bureau of Police detained the 25-year-old man, identified under Polish privacy rules as Artem S., in Warsaw on Monday afternoon under a European Arrest Warrant issued by Romanian authorities.
The suspect is wanted in connection with a Sept. 14 fire on the Carfil industrial platform in Brasov, central Romania, near CARFIL SA, a subsidiary of Romania's state-owned defense group Romarm.
Polish Interior Minister Marcin Kierwinski said the man was suspected of involvement in preparing an act of sabotage involving the arson.
A Polish court will decide whether to surrender him to Romanian authorities.
Romania's Intelligence Service said this week that it had identified a sabotage network "coordinated from the Russian Federation" that it believes was responsible for the September fire.
The intelligence service said the network included citizens of several former Soviet states living in EU countries.
It said the network had been assigned a broader list of targets across the region, including state and private arms-production facilities and other sites of military and industrial importance.
European arrest warrants have been issued for the suspects, who are expected to face proceedings in Romania.
The case comes amid mounting concern across Europe over suspected Russian sabotage targeting defense companies, transport networks, warehouses and other infrastructure since Moscow launched its war on Ukraine in February 2022.
The investigation into the Brasov fire and possible related sabotage attempts remains ongoing.
Russia has denied European accusations that it is directing sabotage, cyberattacks and other so-called hybrid operations against NATO and EU states.