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Western security officials are claiming that Russia is seeking to ignite fires aboard cargo aircraft heading for the United States and Canada.
What’s the deal: According to The Wall Street Journal, citing Western security officials, Russia is allegedly orchestrating a covert campaign to ignite fires aboard aircraft bound for North America by smuggling incendiary devices disguised as everyday items onto passenger or cargo planes. The plot reportedly involves placing these devices—electric massagers modified to contain a magnesium-based flammable substance—within packages shipped via DHL.
The devices, which recently ignited at logistics hubs in Germany and England, are believed to be test runs aimed at refining methods to safely transport such hazardous materials onto flights undetected. If true, this would mark a significant escalation in Moscow’s sabotage efforts against the US and its allies.
Arrests made: In connection with the incendiary devices plot, Polish authorities have arrested four people suspected of involvement in the scheme. These individuals have been charged with participating in sabotage or terrorist activities on behalf of a foreign intelligence agency, suggesting their alleged link to Russian intelligence operations.
Russia downplays claims: In a statement to the Wall Street Journal, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the claims were “traditional unsubstantiated insinuations from the media.”