Russian agents linked to Berlin handgun stash, media say

German security services found two handguns hidden in woods outside Berlin last year and believe they were intended for use by Russian agents, public broadcasters NDR and WDR and the SZ newspaper reported Friday.

The outlets reported that the weapons were found after a tipoff and that a man had been arrested in Romania on suspicion of hiding them.

German security services suspect the weapons were stashed for agents tasked with carrying out so-called “kinetic operations”, such as assassinations, on behalf of Russia, according to the report.

The report said Germany’s Federal Public Prosecutor’s Office is investigating “preparation for a serious act of violence endangering the state”. It also said officers initially disabled the weapons and kept the site under surveillance, but without success.

Concern has grown in Germany over what western governments call hybrid warfare as Berlin has backed Kyiv against Russia’s invasion.

An explosive-laden drone was found this month at Leipzig airport, a key logistics hub for weapons sent to Ukraine, and police deployed a bomb-disposal robot to remove the detonator.

Germany’s BfV domestic spy service has warned that Russia could carry out attacks on defence industry executives, opposition figures in exile and supporters of Ukraine. Alleged assassination plots are said to have targeted Rheinmetall chief executive Armin Papperger and Stefan Thumann, head of drone maker Donaustahl.