German security authorities hold Russia responsible for a sabotage series, in which hundreds of cars were damaged across the country. According to the “Spiegel” more than 270 vehicles in Baden-Württemberg, Berlin, Brandenburg and Bavaria were targeted in the attacks. The perpetrators clogged the exhaust pipes with foam and left stickers at the crime scenes with the slogan “Grüner sein” and a photo of Federal Minister of Economics Robert Habeck.
Initially, the suspicion fell on radical climate activists. However, the authorities now believe that the background is different: during a police control in Schönefeld, Brandenburg, in December, three suspects from southern Germany were arrested near a crime scene, a Serb, a Bosnian and a German. During subsequent searches of their apartments, the investigators found several cans of foam, as well as phones and laptops.
One of the accused reportedly told the investigators that they had been incited to the attacks by a Russian Serb. The instigator, who was reached via the Viber messenger service, had given them detailed instructions for the sabotage actions. For each damaged vehicle, they were promised a fee of 100 euros and as proof of work, they were asked to send photos of the immobilized cars. Part of the money, several thousand euros, has already been delivered to the accused.
Security circles speak of a targeted campaign aimed at stirring up hatred against the Greens and their chancellor candidate in the Bundestag election campaign. The Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution has been warning for some time now about the possible influence of Russia on the advanced election on February 23rd.