Russia allegedly recruits a Colombian individual for orchestrating arson incidents in Poland.
In May 2024, a 27-year-old Colombian national was accused of carrying out two arson attacks on construction supply depots in Poland, as part of a hybrid warfare campaign ordered by Russian intelligence.
The suspect was trained by individuals connected to Russian intelligence services in the preparation of incendiary materials and Molotov cocktails, as well as in documenting the attacks. Russian-language media then exploited these attacks for disinformation purposes, falsely reporting one of the fires as occurring at a logistics center in Radom, storing military equipment for Ukraine.
Following the attacks in Poland, the suspect traveled to the Czech Republic where he set fire to a bus depot and was planning another attack before his arrest. He was later sentenced to eight years in prison for acts of terrorism in the Czech Republic.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk confirmed that Polish prosecutors and security services had linked these sabotage attempts directly to Russian intelligence. Alongside the Colombian suspect, a group of 32 people of various nationalities (including Polish, Russian, Ukrainian, Belarusian, and Colombian) are detained or suspected of cooperating with Russian services on diversionary acts.
Russia has denied involvement or refused to comment on these allegations. The Russian embassy in Warsaw did not comment on the unfounded accusations.
The suspect faces up to 10 years in prison or a life sentence in Poland for his actions, which are considered acts of terrorism. The attacks in Poland and the Czech Republic are part of a campaign involving tactics like arson and cyberattacks.
- The general-news surrounding the arson attacks in Poland and the Czech Republic indicates a significant involvement of Russian intelligence, as confirmed by Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk.
- The suspect, who was connected to Russian intelligence and accused of various sabotage attempts, including crimes against general-news outlets and a crime-and-justice incident in the Czech Republic, might face a life sentence in Poland for his acts of terrorism.
