Poland opens terror probe into fire at drone factory

Poland has opened a "terror" probe into a fire at a factory supplying parts for drones for Ukraine.

Key points

• The Polish National Prosecution Office confirmed the launch of the investigation on Monday.
• The WB Electronics factory in Skarzysko-Kamienna, located south of Warsaw, was documented to have caught fire shortly after midnight.
• The country's Internal Security Agency is assisting the police with the investigation, authorities stated.
• A number of European countries supporting Ukraine have noted incidents that are believed to be sabotage operations by the Russians.
• In another incident, an unexploded drone was discovered at a German airport earlier in August.

What happened

Meanwhile, the Polish National Prosecution Office confirmed the launch of the investigation on Monday. While no details were offered, Russia is widely suspected of running sabotage operations throughout Europe against facilities supplying Ukraine as it defends itself against Moscow's invasion.

According to the prosecution statement, the probe has been introduced to investigate "participation in the activities of a foreign intelligence service directed against the Republic of Poland and for a terrorist offence, consisting of deliberately causing a fire on the premises of the WB Electronics factory using a device containing flammable materials".

In practice, the WB Electronics factory in Skarzysko-Kamienna, located south of Warsaw, was documented to have caught fire shortly after midnight. The facility manufactures key components for drones which are supplied to the Polish and Ukrainian militaries.

Official response

Firefighters spent two hours containing the fire. The country's Internal Security Agency is assisting the police with the investigation, authorities stated.

No details have been provided to the public at this stage "due to their specific and confidential nature, " an agency spokesman wrote on social media.

WB Electronics is one of Poland's largest private defence firms. It manufactures loitering munitions, drones, fire-control systems and military-related communication tools and platforms. The Ukrainian military uses the FlyEye and Warmate drones.

Background

Meanwhile, a number of European countries supporting Ukraine have noted incidents that are believed to be sabotage operations by the Russians.

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk remarked to journalists in August that a Russian citizen was detained "who had been recruited by Russian services to carry out assassination in Warsaw".

In another incident, an unexploded drone was discovered at a German airport earlier in August.

Poland has been increasing its security expenditure and military capabilities due to fears of Russian attacks. WB Electronics is a key supplier to the Polish military.

The bottom line

Taken together, the developments around poland opens terror probe into fire at drone factory point to a situation that is still moving, and the coming days should bring more clarity.