Lithuanian prosecutors have accused Russian intelligence services of orchestrating an arson attack on an IKEA warehouse in Vilnius in May 2024. The fire, which caused damage of approximately €485,519 ($530,000), was allegedly carried out by two Ukrainian nationals, one of whom is a minor. The suspects are charged with terrorism, training for terrorist activities, and illegal possession of explosives.
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The fire broke out on the night of May 9, 2024, when an incendiary device was concealed in the warehouse. The flames spread across goods such as mattresses, tiles, and furniture, but no casualties were reported. The accused minor, who had previously agreed to carry out attacks on shopping centres in Lithuania and Latvia, was reportedly paid €10,000 for the attack and later rewarded with a BMW 530.
Artūras Urbelis, Lithuania's chief prosecutor, stated that 'the organisers of these actions are in Russia' and that the operation involved a 'multi-level system of giving instructions' with 'organisers, intermediaries, and executors'. He described the perpetrators as 'a serious adversary who operates without rules.'
The incident is part of a broader pattern of sabotage operations allegedly linked to Russian security forces, with The New York Times reporting similar attacks across Europe. The pre-trial investigation into the organisation of the arson is ongoing.
Source: www.theins.ru