Two German-Russian men were arrested in Bavaria on suspicion of spying for Russia and planning blasts and arson attacks to undermine Berlin’s military support for Ukraine, German prosecutors said Thursday.

The pair, identified only as Dieter S. and Alexander J., were arrested in the city of Bayreuth in southeastern Germany on Wednesday, federal prosecutors said in a statement.

The main accused, Dieter S., is alleged to have scouted potential targets for attacks, “including facilities of the US armed forces” stationed in Germany.

Police officers also searched both men’s residences and workplaces on Wednesday.

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They are suspected of “having been active for a foreign intelligence service” in what prosecutors described as a “particularly serious case” of espionage.

According to prosecutors, Dieter S. had been exchanging information with a person linked to Russian intelligence services since October 2023, discussing possible sabotage acts.

“The actions were intended, in particular, to undermine the military support provided from Germany to Ukraine against the Russian aggression,” prosecutors said.

The accused allegedly expressed readiness to “commit explosive and arson attacks mainly on military infrastructure and industrial sites in Germany”.

To this end, Dieter S. collected information about potential targets, “including facilities of the US armed forces”.

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Fellow accused Alexander J. began assisting him in March 2024 at the latest, they added.

Dieter S. scouted some of the potential targets by taking photos and videos of military transport and equipment. He then allegedly shared the information with his contact person.

Dieter S. also faces a separate charge of belonging to a foreign terrorist organisation, as prosecutors strongly suspect he was a fighter of an armed unit of the so-called “People’s Republic of Donetsk” in eastern Ukraine in 2014-2016.

Germany has been shaken by several cases of alleged spying for Russia since the invasion of Ukraine in early 2022, amid suggestions that officials in Berlin are too sympathetic to Moscow.

A former German intelligence officer is currently on trial in Berlin, accused of handing information to Moscow that showed Germany had access to details of Russian mercenary operations in Ukraine. He denies the charges.

In November 2022, a German man was handed a suspended sentence for passing information to Russian intelligence services while working as a reserve officer for the German army.

AFP

A millitary chopper carrying Kenyan Chief of Defence Forces, Francis Ogolla on Thursday afternoon crashed at the Kaben-Cheptulel border between Elgeyo Marakwet and West Pokot counties.

The chopper was reportedly carrying nine people at the time it went down.

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More coming…

A Brazilian woman who wheeled her uncle’s dead body into her local bank and tried to take out a loan in his name, has been arrested.

The lady identified as Erika de Souza Vieira Nunes was captured on video during the incident at a bank in Rio de Janeiro. She appeared to have a corpse with her as she attempted to secure some financing for a $3,400 loan.

The video is quite eerie as she tried to force him to sign paperwork with his limp hand. She was seen talking to her dead uncle at various points, asking him if he could hear her and if he was listening, instructing him to sign even though he was clearly not talking back. The woman also attempts to hold his head straight as it constantly tilts and falls back.

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Employees at the bank weren’t convinced, ultimately calling in the police who arrested Erika. Authorities confirmed the victim’s name was Paulo Roberto Braga, and he was dead for hours before being wheeled into the bank on Tuesday, April 16.

Erika may be charged with theft through fraud, embezzlement, as well as abuse of a corpse and cops are trying to determine how he died and if other family members were involved.

🇧🇷 | En un hecho insólito en Bangu, Río de Janeiro, Érika de Souza Vieira Nunes fue descubierta intentando retirar un préstamo bancario usando el cadáver de su tío, Paulo Roberto Braga, de 68 años.https://t.co/IyGeG0Ax5X

— UHN PLUS (@UHN_Plus) April 17, 2024