Gun stash discovered in German forest believed to be linked to Russia, say reports

German security authorities discovered handguns stashed in ⁠a forest near Berlin last year that they believe were ⁠to be used ⁠to ​carry out assassinations on behalf of Russian intelligence, Süddeutsche Zeitung reported on ⁠Friday.

The Russian embassy did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The ⁠newspaper’s report, published jointly with the broadcasters NDR and ​WDR on Friday, ‌cited unspecified ‌sources as saying that one suspect had been ‌arrested in Romania and may have been responsible for setting up the weapons storage.

The federal public prosecutor’s office was investigating the case on suspicion of planning of a ‌serious act of violence posing a threat to the state, the report ​said. The paper said Germany’s domestic intelligence service, which has been warning of a heightened risk of Russian sabotage or assassination attempts, ⁠was convinced that those setting up the cache were ​acting ​on orders from ​Russian services.

Potential targets included defence ​industry executives, exiled ‌opposition figures ​and ​supporters of Ukraine, the report said.

The federal public prosecutor and Germany’s domestic intelligence service declined to comment.