The fire near a weapons factory in Romania was allegedly caused by a sabotage network coordinated from Russia, claims SRI
The Romanian Intelligence Service (SRI) has identified, in cooperation with internal and external partners, a coordinated sabotage network from the Russian Federation, whose members are suspected of causing the fire of September 14, 2026, on an industrial platform in Brașov. Three foreign citizens are targeted by the investigation, and Romanian authorities warn that the network also targeted other military and industrial objectives in Europe, reports Euronews Romania.
The fire broke out in the immediate vicinity of CARFIL SA, a subsidiary of the national company ROMARM, and affected the headquarters of several commercial companies.
According to the Directorate for the Investigation of Organized Crime and Terrorism (DIICOT), the case involves two Belarusian citizens and a Ukrainian citizen, residents of European Union states.
Two of the suspects were identified and pre-trial arrested in Germany, while they were preparing to commit similar acts. On October 26, Romanian authorities issued a third European arrest warrant, for a suspect located in Poland. Steps are being taken to extradite the three to Romania.
The SRI claims that the network's operations were not limited to Romania. The coordinators in Russia allegedly set several targets in the region, including state and private arms factories, as well as other objectives of military and industrial interest.
The intelligence service believes that this case is part of a broader sabotage campaign carried out by the Russian Federation in Europe. During 2026, authorities identified other attempts directed against targets in Romania, including international military facilities or those used for training Ukrainian military personnel.
The SRI also warns about the recruitment methods used by these networks. Individuals are usually contacted via social media and initially receive financial offers for seemingly harmless activities, such as photographing or monitoring targets. Later, the tasks can evolve into destruction, arson and even assassinations. Those who refuse may be subjected to pressure or blackmail.
The investigation is being conducted by DIICOT, with the support of the Romanian Intelligence Service (SRI) and other Romanian institutions. The investigation into attempted acts of sabotage is ongoing, including in cooperation with authorities from other European states.
