Circuit Wire — a daily news update from the Circuit.
Polish prosecutors opened a terrorism investigation on Monday, August 31, after a fire tore through a factory operated by the defense manufacturer WB Electronics in Skarzysko-Kamienna, south of Warsaw, Al Jazeera reported. The blaze broke out shortly after midnight, and firefighters spent about two hours bringing it under control.
The National Prosecution Office said it is examining "participation in the activities of a foreign intelligence service directed against the Republic of Poland" and a terrorist offense involving a device that contained flammable materials. Poland's Internal Security Agency is assisting the police. Officials said further details would remain confidential because of their sensitive nature.
WB Electronics is one of Poland's largest private defense companies. It builds loitering munitions, drones, fire-control systems and military communications equipment. Its FlyEye reconnaissance and Warmate strike drones are used by both the Polish and Ukrainian militaries, a role that has made the firm a visible target as Warsaw expands its arms production.
Warehouse facilities were destroyed, with damage estimated at a minimum of 15 million zloty, or about $4 million, the Associated Press reported. Prime Minister Donald Tusk said the plant had been hit within the past "dozens of hours" and warned that Poland was facing fresh acts of sabotage.
European governments have reported a rise in sabotage they attribute to Russia, which denies any role. The Associated Press has counted around 200 such incidents across Europe since Russia invaded Ukraine, ranging from arson at warehouses to drone flights over sensitive sites. In August, an unexploded drone was found near Ukrainian aircraft at a German airport. Tusk said the same month that Poland had detained a Russian citizen who was recruited to carry out an assassination in Warsaw.
Poland has been raising military spending and hardening its defenses amid fears of Russian attacks, and WB Electronics remains a key supplier to its armed forces. Investigators have not named a suspect or confirmed who set the fire, and the Internal Security Agency said its inquiries were continuing.
Want a weekly roundup of the major stories shaping the security industry? The On The Circuit newsletter is read by more than 12,000 protection professionals.
Spotted something we should cover? Send tips and feedback via circuit-magazine.com.