Lyce · Hybrid Watch

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Russian-linked operative sets fire to construction-material depot in Warsaw.

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On 23 May 2024, a Colombian national later identified by Polish investigators as Andres D. set fire to a construction-material depot in Warsaw’s Targówek district. The fire remained relatively limited and was rapidly extinguished, but part of the stored merchandise was damaged. Investigators established that the perpetrator had arrived in Warsaw only three days earlier and had received instructions concerning targets and methods of attack, including preparation of incendiary devices. Polish authorities later concluded that he was acting for a foreign intelligence service, and ABW stated that his activities were commissioned, supervised and financed by a person connected to Russian special services. Recordings made during the operation were transmitted to his handlers and later formed part of Russian-language propaganda and disinformation activity. Because the Warsaw and Radom fires occurred on different dates and at separate sites, they should be recorded as two incidents, rather than a single two-location operation.

Occurrence
Publication
First observed
Review status
Not assessed
Countries
Poland
Updated

Attribution

Official

Facts

No facts

Sources

  1. Role
    Discovery lead
    Publication

    On 23 May 2024, a Colombian national later identified by Polish investigators as Andres D. set fire to a construction-material depot in Warsaw’s Targówek district. The fire remained relatively limited and was rapidly extinguished, but part of the stored merchandise was damaged. Investigators established that the perpetrator had arrived in Warsaw only three days earlier and had received instructions concerning targets and methods of attack, including preparation of incendiary devices. Polish authorities later concluded that he was acting for a foreign intelligence service, and ABW stated that his activities were commissioned, supervised and financed by a person connected to Russian special services. Recordings made during the operation were transmitted to his handlers and later formed part of Russian-language propaganda and disinformation activity. Because the Warsaw and Radom fires occurred on different dates and at separate sites, they should be recorded as two incidents, rather than a single two-location operation.