Lithuania charges 15 over alleged Russian-backed parcel bombs
Fifteen people were charged with breaches of terrorism in Lithuania for the alleged detonation of Russia Russia of packages in Germany, Poland and the United Kingdom, according to prosecutors.
The suspects are accused of using DHL and DPD delivery companies to send four packets of hidden explosives in cosmetic containers from the Lithuanian capital Vilnius.
The fires broke out in Germany, Poland and the United Kingdom in July from last year, while the fourth plot failed to ignite due to dysfunction.
Lithuanian investigators say the conspiracy was coordinated by individuals with links with Russian military intelligence and previously said they were dry races aimed at saboturing flights to the United States and Canada.
Russia has not yet responded to the last declaration, but has denied repeated allegations of NATO countries that its secret services are engaged in sabotage operations across Europe.
The packages contained explosive devices that have been launched by electronic timer hidden in vibrant massage pillows, according to a joint declaration of the general accusation of the accusation and the criminal police of Lithuania.
Explosives were found during the investigation and 15 people were charged, notably citizens of Russia, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia and Ukraine, according to the press release. We do not know how many of them are in detention.
The declaration identified men who are also accused of being the source of a criminal fire against an Ikea furniture store in the Lithuanian capital last year.
“It was determined that the above -mentioned individuals acted in an organized manner, adhering to a very strict conspiracy, dividing individual tasks,” said the press release.
In July of last year, fires broke out in a container that should be loaded on a DHL cargo plane in the German city in Leipzig, in a transport company near Warsaw, and in Minworth near Birmingham, in the United Kingdom, involving a package described as a incendiary apparatus.
Western security officials told the American media at the time that they thought that fires were part of an orchestrated campaign from the Russian military intelligence agency, the GRU.
