A foreigner who planned sabotage with instructions from Russia will be tried in Romania
5 December, 2024 Officers of the Romanian Directorate for Investigating Organized Crime and Terrorism (DIICOT). Photo credits: press service of the department A Colombian citizen who planned to organize explosions with instructions from Russia will be tried in Romania.
Adevarul reported on this. Officers of the Romanian Directorate for Investigating Organized Crime and Terrorism (DIICOT) detained a 34-year-old Colombian on suspicion of planning to commit sabotage at the country's facilities. He is currently in custody, and his case was transferred to the Bucharest Court of Appeal on November 13.
He faces 10 to 20 years in prison on the charges.
Photo on the topic: detention/arrest
According to the investigation, in July 2024, at the instigation of another foreigner living in Russia, the man planned arson and explosions in Romania at important industrial facilities and critical infrastructure. Also during the same period, the accused managed to film the objects he intended to destroy, but the sabotage did not come to pass due to police intervention, DIICOT claims. According to prosecutors, the man received military training in his home country, where he gained skills in gathering intelligence.
The trial of the Colombian in Romania was reported amid intensified Russian subversive activities in various countries.
Subversive activities
In November, U.S. intelligence agencies warned U.S. defense companies about Russia's plans to carry out sabotage at defense companies both in the United States and abroad.
An army munitions plant in Macalester, USA. Photo credits: U.S. Department of Defense
According to officials, Russian intelligence services have been conducting sabotage operations against European defense companies "to undermine the support of Ukraine by the Allies."
In Poland, four saboteurs were arrested in October for sending packages of explosives and hazardous materials that would spontaneously combust or detonate during ground and air transportation by transport companies.