Germany investigates Russian‑linked weapons cache near Berlin

German intelligence agencies have revealed that a stash of guns and shells found in a wooded area outside Berlin last year could have been intended to carry out covert Russian assassinations. The cache, uncovered with help from the Berlin Police, contained two handguns and ammunition.

Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt said prosecutors were probing a suspected Russian spy in Romania who might have prepared package bombs. He declined to confirm Russian ties to the cache, but stressed that the case indicated a "high threat level" and that foreign operatives could be involved.

Security services have warned that Russia’s intelligence apparatus has plotted to eliminate individuals on German soil, including defense industry leaders, through covert attacks. Similar concerns arose after a 2024 CNN report alleged that Moscow planned to kill Rheinmetall’s chief executive.

Previous incidents—such as the 2021 murder of a Berlin resident, allegedly orchestrated by a Russian national on Moscow’s instructions—highlight the urgency of the investigations. In 2026, a Romania‑based suspect is under scrutiny for alleged bomb threats, potentially linked to a broader assassination network.

See related story: German shock at reported Russian assassination plot