Belarussian men held in Germany over alleged sabotage plot

Two Belarussian men have been arrested in Germany for allegedly conspiring to commit sabotage against infrastructure on behalf of a foreign government or organisation, prosecutors said Wednesday.

Munich prosecutors said the men, aged 39 and 50, were suspected of planning to set fire to a building or piece of critical infrastructure near Nuremberg in return for payment.

Spiegel reported that the men were suspected of acting on behalf of Russia and were plotting a fire near a train track and power lines.

Munich prosecutors confirmed that the two men were the subject of extradition warrants from Romania, but did not specify why.

Spiegel reported that the men were also involved in a September 14 fire near an arms factory in Brasov, Romania, which the Romanian government blamed on Russia.

Romania's organised crime office said earlier this week that two suspects in that case had been remanded in custody in Germany and that a third suspect was at large in Poland. Polish police said Wednesday that a Ukrainian man identified as Artem S. had been arrested in Warsaw on a European arrest warrant issued by Romania.

Germany and Romania say they are facing a campaign of hybrid sabotage and interference by the Kremlin aimed at weakening support for Ukraine. Russia rejects the accusations.