Four suspects in attacks involving construction foam linked to Russia are on trial in Germany

In Germany, three men and a woman have gone on trial, accused of a series of attacks on hundreds of cars. The incidents, which involved the use of construction foam, occurred in four federal states, and Russia is suspected of being behind the attacks.

 

The Ulm Public Prosecutor’s Office has charged the defendants, aged 18 to 21, with joint criminal damage to property. One of them has already testified regarding the crimes committed. Two witnesses are scheduled to testify at the start of the trial, a spokeswoman for the local court explained.

According to the prosecution, in December 2024, this group allegedly intentionally damaged numerous vehicles in Blaubeuren, Langenau, Ulm, Neu-Ulm, Schönefeld (Brandenburg), and Berlin. The damage is estimated at over 13,000 euros.

The defendants are accused of filling the cars’ exhaust pipes with construction foam. This caused inconvenience for the car owners, as the foam is difficult to remove once it hardens.

They are also accused of affixing stickers to the cars bearing the slogan “BE GREEN!” and an image of Robert Habeck, then the federal minister of economy from the Green Party.

Investigators believe that behind this seemingly simple act of vandalism lay a clumsy attempt to influence the 2025 federal elections. According to the prosecutor’s office, one of the masterminds specifically incited these four individuals to carry out these acts in order to influence the voting behavior of the German population. In return, they were promised 100 euros for each damaged car.

The Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution has long warned of attempts by Russian intelligence services to recruit so-called “one-time agents” for espionage and sabotage in Germany. Security agencies view their actions as part of the hybrid threat facing Germany, particularly since the start of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine.

The investigation into the organizers of the construction foam sabotage has now been closed. According to preliminary statements by the prosecutor’s office, one of the suspects reported that these actions were ordered by a man believed to be a Serbian citizen residing in Russia. His identity has not yet been established.

According to the prosecutor’s office, the 19-year-old defendant, who is currently in custody for another crime, testified regarding the charges brought against him and also implicated his accomplices. The three other defendants either denied the charges or exercised their right to remain silent. They are currently free.

According to the prosecutor’s office, among these three men are a citizen of Bosnia and Herzegovina from the Günzburg area, a German citizen from Ulm, and a man with Serbian and Croatian citizenship who currently resides in Neu-Ulm. The female defendant is a 20-year-old Romanian citizen residing in the Alb-Donau district.

The alleged crimes are said to have been committed between December 8 and 11, 2024. Proceedings against a 29-year-old man from the Alb-Donau district have been discontinued.

Source: Welt

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