Germany probes suspected Russian-linked weapons cache near Berlin

German security authorities are investigating a cache of handguns found in a forest near Berlin that they believe may have been intended for assassinations linked to Russian intelligence. The discovery was reported to have been made last year, but details emerged publicly on Friday through reporting based on unnamed sources. The case has added to concern in Germany about possible sabotage and targeted violence connected to Russia.

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According to the report, the federal public prosecutor's office is examining the case on suspicion of planning a serious act of violence posing a threat to the state. The weapons were reportedly hidden in woodland near the capital, and investigators believe the people involved were acting on orders from Russian services. One suspect was said to have been arrested in Romania and may have been responsible for setting up the storage site.

The report said Germany's domestic intelligence service has been warning of a heightened risk of Russian sabotage or assassination attempts. It also said the suspected targets could have included defence industry executives, exiled opposition figures and supporters of Ukraine. The Russian embassy had not immediately responded to a request for comment, while the federal public prosecutor and domestic intelligence service declined to comment.

The case matters because it sits at the intersection of national security, foreign intelligence activity and the protection of people seen as politically sensitive targets. Germany has been one of the European countries most alert to the risk of covert operations since Russia's full-scale war in Ukraine, particularly where such activity could affect defence, politics or public safety. A weapons cache allegedly prepared for assassinations would represent a serious escalation in the type of threat authorities say they are monitoring.

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The investigation also highlights the role of intelligence and law-enforcement cooperation across borders. The reported arrest in Romania suggests the inquiry may extend beyond Germany, although the available information does not say what charges, if any, have been brought there. The case is being handled by federal prosecutors, indicating that investigators view it as potentially significant at the national level.

What remains unclear is who exactly organised the cache, how many weapons were involved and whether any intended targets were already under surveillance. It is also not known whether the alleged plan was disrupted before any attack could be carried out. Further official confirmation may come only if prosecutors decide to disclose more about the investigation or bring charges.

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