German federal prosecutors are investigating a weapons cache found in a wooded area near Berlin, following reports that intelligence officials link the discovery to Russian assassination plots. Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt announced that authorities are currently investigating a suspect in Romania for suspected espionage and the preparation of acts of violence threatening the state. While Dobrindt did not confirm a direct link to Russia, he stated he could not rule out the involvement of foreign powers.
The investigation began in October when Germany’s domestic intelligence agency identified a possible weapons stash on the outskirts of Berlin. Working with Berlin state police, officials located two handguns and ammunition. According to reports from the newspaper Süddeutsche Zeitung and broadcasters NDR and WDR, German intelligence believe these weapons were intended for targeted killings directed by Moscow.
Security officials rendered the firearms inoperable and placed the site under surveillance for several months, though Dobrindt reported that no one approached the cache during that period. The suspect currently under investigation is being held in Romania in connection with separate parcel bomb attacks in that country. Dobrindt described the individual as a "low-level agent" but did not disclose their nationality, noting that a possible extradition would be considered.
This discovery follows earlier warnings from German security agencies regarding potential Russian intelligence operations targeting defense industry executives and opposition figures living in exile. Earlier this year, reports emerged of a Russian plot to target Armin Papperger, the head of the arms manufacturer Rheinmetall. Additionally, Dobrindt noted that several other operatives have been detained this year, including one individual from Kazakhstan.
The scale of the reported operations involves multiple international jurisdictions, with one suspect currently detained in Romania and another previously detained from Kazakhstan. The discovery of two handguns and ammunition in a public wooded area highlights a tangible, localized risk. For the broader German public, such investigations into foreign-sponsored violence underscore a "high threat level" described by the Interior Minister, which may influence national policies regarding surveillance and the monitoring of foreign nationals suspected of espionage.
The case also sets a precedent for how Germany handles suspected foreign state-sponsored violence following the 2021 conviction of Vadim Krasikov for a murder in Berlin that a court ruled was ordered by Moscow. The ongoing investigation into the Romanian suspect and potential extradition proceedings will determine how Germany coordinates with European partners to prosecute alleged state-sponsored actors. Future developments will depend on the findings of federal prosecutors and the outcome of the Romanian legal proceedings against the unnamed suspect.