Particle.news

Lithuania Charges Five Over 2024 Parcel Incendiary Plot Across Europe

Prosecutors attribute the scheme to Russian military intelligence.

Overview

  • Authorities identified the accused as a Lithuanian, a Lithuanian of Russian origin, a Russian, and two Ukrainians, charging them with preparing terror acts.
  • Investigators say four parcels were dispatched via DHL and DPD in July 2024, causing fires in Leipzig, Birmingham and Poland, while a fourth device malfunctioned.
  • Two earlier test packages reportedly bound for the United States and Canada were intercepted in Amsterdam before departure.
  • German officials said the burning parcel found at the Leipzig freight hub could have triggered a plane crash, underscoring the air‑cargo safety risk.
  • Eurojust cites a network of about 22 people recruited online, with Poland already prosecuting five suspects and additional suspects sought under international warrants.