A plot to set fire to a factory employing 70 people in Slovakia has been uncovered
Slovak law enforcement agencies have uncovered a plot to set fire to a drone factory in the east of the country. Of the three foreigners suspected of preparing the crime, two were arrested in Slovakia and one in Germany. During the search, a large amount of flammable mixture, tools and a handwritten plan were found.
Slovakia foils plot to set fire to factory with 70 employees
Officers from the Slovak Office for Combating Organized Crime (UBOK) have foiled a plot to set fire to a drone manufacturing facility in the east of the country.
Slovak police said on August 25 that they had charged three foreigners with preparing a particularly serious crime that poses a threat to society. Two of them were arrested in Slovakia. The third suspect was arrested in Germany on the basis of a European arrest warrant issued shortly after.
According to police, a “large amount” of flammable mixtures, various tools, mobile phones, an action camera and a hand-drawn plan were seized during the searches of the suspects. According to initial estimates, the suspects may have planned to use napalm to set fire to the factory.
According to preliminary data from the Slovak police, in the event of a planned attack, there could be about 70 employees inside the factory building. It is also said that the total value of the property and equipment in the production area is tens of millions of euros.
Law enforcement agencies have not yet provided detailed information about the nationality of the suspects, the name of the factory and the motives behind the possible attack.
The incident in Slovakia comes at a time when European countries are paying increased attention to the security of defense industry enterprises. Earlier, the British newspaper The Telegraph published a material about the increase in sabotage cases at arms factories across Europe. The publication, citing representatives of the special services, wrote that Russia may be recruiting members of local criminal groups to damage defense enterprises in Europe. The Telegraph's sources also claimed that such actions may be aimed at testing NATO's response.