Germany Warns of Rising Air Freight Security Risks Amid Sabotage Fears
German authorities have issued a security alert warning about the growing risk of unconventional incendiary devices being sent via freight service providers. The alert follows several incidents in which parcels, primarily sent by private individuals across Europe, ignited while in transit.
Germany’s Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA) and the domestic intelligence agency (BfV) have been monitoring these incidents for several weeks. According to their security notice, parcels containing incendiary devices have caught fire in several European countries. This alert, distributed to logistics and aviation companies on Aug. 28, aims to address the threat posed to Western logistics networks.
Though Russia was not explicitly named in the alert, security officials have not ruled out a possible link between these incidents and recent Russian sabotage activities in Europe. Authorities raised concerns after a significant incident at the DHL air freight hub in Leipzig, where a parcel from the Baltic States containing an incendiary device set a freight container on fire in July. Fortunately, the fire was swiftly extinguished.
The suspicious parcels have typically included electrical items and containers of liquid, with shipping costs disproportionately higher than the value of the goods. The Federal Prosecutor’s Office has taken charge of the ongoing investigation into these incidents.
DHL Express confirmed it is cooperating fully with authorities and has heightened security measures across its European operations. “We are aware of two recent incidents involving shipments in our network,” the company stated.
Meanwhile, Germany’s intelligence agency
