German security forces believe a series of acts of vandalism against cars across the country could be linked to Russia, according to a new report.
Initial investigations have determined that the incidents – involving more than 270 vehicles nationwide – were carried out in exchange for money on behalf of a Russian client, Germany’s Spiegel magazine said on Wednesday.
The report said three young men were found carrying construction foam just outside Berlin, shortly before reports were received of 43 vehicles whose exhaust pipes had been blocked with the material.
Scraps of paper with slogans from Germany’s Greens were reportedly left at the scene, suggesting an attempt to portray the offences as stemming from climate activists.
“For months, espionage and sabotage have been used in a targeted attempt to stir up uncertainty, fuel existing conflicts and divide us as a society,” said Green politician Konstantin von Notz.
Investigators in the southern city of Ulm have reported 123 offences, with four young men from Germany, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia and Romania the main suspects.
According to the Spiegel magazine, the suspects were recruited online.
An Interior Ministry spokesman said it has not received concrete evidence of Russian involvement and that investigations were still ongoing.
German intelligence services believe Russian actors are hiring people to carry out espionage and sabotage operations across the country, with the deployment of professional spies being made increasingly difficult due to sanctions and increased vigilance.
