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Exploding parcels in Europe part of plot to target U.S. flights, authorities state

Parcels that took off at logistics depots in Europe were part of a trial run for a Russian plot to trigger surges on freight flights to the United States, according to security officials.

Western governments and intelligence companies in Europe have formerly indicated Moscow as being the source of a series of fires and acts of sabotage in Europe targeted at destabilising allies of Ukraine.

However, surges in carrier depots in Britain, Germany and Poland this July, which a Lithuanian governmental adviser said were the work of Russia, had the prospective to mark a. major escalation by causing an explosion on an aircraft.

I can mention that this becomes part of unconventional kinetic. operations versus NATO nations that are being undertaken by. the Russian military intelligence, Kestutis Budrys, a national. security advisor to Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda, informed. Reuters on Tuesday.

We keep in mind that these operations are being escalated: their. focus is moving ... to harming infrastructure and actions that. could wind up eliminating people, he added.

The Russian government did not immediately respond to a. request for remark.

The Wall Street Journal on Monday cited Western security. authorities as saying that the gadgets that sparked in DHL depots. in Birmingham, main England, and Leipzig became part of a. Russian operation that was planned to trigger fires on cargo or. passenger flights to The United States and Canada.

TAKING OFF PARCELS EXAMINATION

Poland stated in October that it had actually detained four people in. an investigation into explosive parcels being sent out by carrier to. EU countries and Britain as part of a plot that eventually aimed. to send such bundles to the United States and Canada.

Warsaw blamed foreign intelligence services without. specifically naming Russia.

Polish daily Gazeta Wyborcza reported in October that a. parcel had caused a fire in a truck at a site coming from a. courier firm near Warsaw and that the blowing up parcels in. Poland, Germany and Britain had been sent from Lithuania.

Lithuanian District Attorney General Nida Grunskiene informed reporters. Vilnius was examining the parcels and arrests had actually been made. in Lithuania and in other places.

Our investigation is continuous quite extremely, in. cooperation with organizations in other nations, she said. And at this minute we have people under arrest, however I will not. say the number to prevent harm to the examination.

The FBI declined to comment. Britain's Office, which is. responsible for domestic security, declined to comment.

Britain's Security Service (MI5) Director General Ken. McCallum stated in October that Russia's GRU military intelligence. service was trying to cause chaos across Britain and Europe.

Poland said in October it would close the Russian consulate. in the western city of Poznan due to suspected Russian attempts. at sabotage.

(source: Reuters)