Polish PM Alleges Russian Terrorism Plot Aimed at Airlines Worldwide

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On January 15, 2025, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk accused Russia of planning "acts of terrorism in the air" that could potentially target flights globally. At a press conference in Warsaw, Tusk stated that Poland is actively countering Russian sabotage efforts, referencing a series of incendiary parcel attacks that occurred in Poland, the UK, and Germany during the summer of 2024.

According to Tusk, recent intelligence confirms fears surrounding Russia's intent to orchestrate fire bomb attacks capable of bringing down planes mid-flight. He did not provide further details on the intelligence that led to his assertions.

The incendiary devices that sparked concern were delivered via DHL, with incidents reported at Birmingham airport and Leipzig airport. In Birmingham, a parcel ignited after having traveled on an aircraft, while in Leipzig, a device was found just before it was to be loaded onto a flight. These packages were said to have originated from Lithuania, raising alarms about security vulnerabilities in postal services.

Reports indicated that the attacks were viewed by Western officials as a "dry run" for potential larger-scale incidents targeting the United States. Senior officials in Washington have reportedly communicated to Russian leaders that the U.S. would hold Moscow accountable for any escalation of these terrorism-related activities.

In light of these developments, safety measures in parcel handling and air transport are being reviewed, although specific statements aimed at reassuring the public have been scarce. Former German intelligence chief Thomas Haldenwang warned that had the Leipzig parcel ignited in-flight, it could have led to a catastrophic crash.

Russia's Foreign Ministry did not respond to requests for comment, consistently denying any involvement in the parcel bomb incidents and other alleged attacks attributed to Russian operatives.

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