… claim Western security services. After evaluating previous findings, they conclude that the fires triggered by parcel bombs in Leipzig and Birmingham last July, were part
of a covert operation. According to the investigators, the saboteurs’ aim was
to carry out test runs for an intended series of attacks on cargo and passenger
aircraft on flights between Europe and North America.
Their findings are consistent with statements made by Colonel Pawel Szota, Head of the Department of Information at the Polish Foreign Intelligence Agency. In a response to an inquiry by the Wall Street Journal, he attributed the sabotage and attempted attacks to Russia’s secret services. In his statement, he mentions a “massive escalation” of Russian aggression against the West. “I’m not sure the Russian leadership realizes what the consequences would be if such a package explodes in flight and, in the case of a passenger plane, kills many people.”
Attacks-for-hire groups
As CargoForwarder reported, Polish authorities recently arrested four suspects who are believed to be connected with the incendiary devices hidden in DHL parcels.
The investigating authorities accuse the quartet of targeted sabotage and terrorism, hired and paid by Russian sources. According to research by the Polish Foreign Intelligence Agency, it is certain that one of the detainees posted the parcels in a DHL store in the Lithuanian capital, Vilnius, as an intermediary for the Russian secret service, using a false name.
The Kremlin rejects accusations
In a statement to the Wall Street Journal, Putin spokesman, Dmitry Peskov speaks of “unsubstantiated insinuations” against Russia. He is not aware of any official accusations against the Russian government. The fact is that some authorities in the West assume that Russian secret services may have planned actions such as the arson attacks without authorization from the Kremlin.
Attacks with little or no warning
The 38-page “2025 Homeland Threat Assessment,” released late OCT24, states that the U.S. remains highly concerned about threats to air transportation and cargo, including the potential use of the air cargo supply chain to transport concealed, dangerous and potentially lethal items. “Russian state-sponsored actors […], lone actors, and small groups continue to pose the greatest threat, conducting attacks with little or no warning,” is stated in the bulletin.
As part of a multi-layered security approach, Washington’s Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is collaborating with industry partners to step up security measures for U.S. aircraft operators and foreign air carriers regarding certain cargo shipments bound for the United States, in line with the 2021 TSA Air Cargo Security Roadmap, a TSA announcement reads. “We continually adjust our security posture as appropriate and promptly share any and all relevant information with our industry partners, to include requirements and recommendations that help them reduce risk,” the TSA notes.
AeroLogic is part of the safety network
Asked by CargoForwarder Global about consequences for its security scheme following the arson attacks, DHL emphasized that it “cooperates closely with the relevant authorities to protect our people and assets. [However], we do not disclose security-related matters for obvious reasons,” said Dirk Heinrichs, Spokesman Global/EMEA, DHL Express. He emphasized that the security-related cooperation also applies to AeroLogic, in which DHL and Lufthansa Cargo each hold 50% of the shares. Like DHL Express, AeroLogic is based in Leipzig/Halle.
“We are in very close and constant contact with our AeroLogic colleagues, which also applies to those responsible for the Leipzig hub,” the most important in the integrator’s global network. Asked about the possible use of dogs to detect explosives in parcels thus lowering the risks further, he said that this is an option. “If necessary, we can request trained canines at all times if we expect this step to further improve our existing and fine-tuned security scheme.”
