German police uncover weapons cache tied to alleged Russian assassination plots

Sun Sep 06 2026 00:34:11 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

German authorities say a cache of guns in Berlin’s outskirts may have been used for Russian-backed killings. The Interior Minister confirms ongoing investigations.

A weapons cache hidden in woods near Berlin sparked fears of Russian‑backed assassinations, according to German intelligence. Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt warned security agencies are on high alert, noting the weapons may have been prepared for attacks. The case follows earlier claims linking Russia to plots against German officials and arms suppliers, and prompts talks on extraditing suspected operatives. German domestic intelligence is probing a suspect in Romania over parcel bomb plans tied to the cache.

German police uncover weapons cache tied to alleged Russian assassination plots

A hidden stash of firearms found in German woods near Berlin last year has led authorities to suspect ties to Russian‑backed violent plots.

German police officer with operational vest — German police officer in a police vehicle.

German intelligence reports the cache, consisting of two pistols and ammunition, may have been intended for “targeted killings” on behalf of Russia. Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt confirmed investigations into a suspect in Romania, accused of planning parcel‑bomb attacks, and said the country could face extradition considerations.

While the minister refrained from confirming Russian involvement, he emphasised that foreign powers could not be ruled out. He described the suspect as a “low‑level agent” and noted that two other operatives, one from Kazakhstan, had been detained earlier this year.

German security authorities have warned that Russian intelligence services might plan assassinations in Germany, targeting defence‑industry figures or political exiles. In 2024, a Czech‑documenting report alleged Russia plotted to kill the head of Rheinmetall’s German arm, a claim that German officials angrily disputed.

The investigation also draws from a 2021 case where Russian national Vadim Krasikov was jailed for a Berlin park murder ordered by Moscow, though he was later freed in a prisoner exchange.

Dobrindt underscored that this case illustrates Germany operating under a “high threat level” and that surveillance of the cache continued for months until no evidence of approach was detected. The interior ministry is now working closely with federal prosecutors to ascertain the full extent of the suspected plot and potential links to other European threats.