Munich defence firms targeted in arson attack

German authorities said defence company offices in Munich were targeted in an overnight arson attack, and two Bulgarian nationals were later arrested.

Police said they suspected a “political background” to the attack. No major damage or injuries were reported.

A police spokesman in Munich said authorities were alerted overnight that objects may have been thrown from a car on a street that is home to defence companies. Officers found one firebomb alight and extinguished it, then rendered a second device harmless.

Bulgaria's foreign ministry said two of its nationals had been placed in police custody as part of an attempted arson investigation. Munich police said the suspects were a 38-year-old Bulgarian man and a 28-year-old Bulgarian woman arrested at a petrol station.

Local public broadcaster Bayerischer Rundfunk reported that the devices were thrown into a construction site forming part of the premises of Rohde & Schwarz, a technology firm that supplies the German and other militaries, and that one started a fire near containers.

Rohde & Schwarz said incendiary devices were found close to its headquarters and that its site was “not affected”. Drone maker Helsing, which supplies the Ukrainian armed forces, has its headquarters opposite the site and declined to comment.

Bavaria's Interior Minister Joachim Herrmann linked the Munich incident to a suspected Russian “hybrid attack” involving an explosive-laden drone at Leipzig airport last month and two attacks this week on power substations. He said Germany faced an increased risk of attacks on infrastructure and defence companies.

German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said investigations were ongoing. Germany this week formally accused Moscow of being behind the Leipzig airport incident. Berlin has accused Russia of recruiting low-level agents to carry out such acts.

Germany, a key NATO supporter of Ukraine against Russia, has been on alert for sabotage plots and “hybrid attacks”. Munich is a major centre for the defence technology industry.