German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser said Friday she is taking the threat from Russia “very seriously” as the fallout from an alleged Russian plot to assassinate the head of German arms manufacturer Rheinmetall continues.
“We do not comment on individual threats,” the minister told dpa in Berlin after CNN first reported the story on Thursday. “But one thing is very clear: We take the significantly increased threat of Russian aggression very seriously.”
Faeser said Germany is taking action together with international partners and security authorities to protect itself and thwart Russian President Vladimir Putin’s plans.
The Putin regime wants to undermine support for Ukraine, Faeser said. “We will not be intimidated.”
Protective measures have been dramatically stepped up in light of Russian threats since Putin ordered a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the minister said. “The threats range from espionage, sabotage and cyber attacks to state terrorism,” the minister said.
Faeser highlighted two possible acts of sabotage that German counterintelligence services prevented in April, when two men were arrested in Bavaria and accused of planning sabotage attacks against German aid to Ukraine.
“Our security authorities have acted very consistently and prevented possible explosive attacks in Germany,” Faeser explained. “We will continue to do everything we can to prevent Russian threats in Germany.”
