The fire, which erupted on Sunday at a storage facility in the city's Nowy Port district, quickly engulfed the warehouse and spread over approximately 5,000 square meters.
Photo: PAP/Marcin Gadomski
Tomasz Siemoniak, the minister of the interior and administration, assured the public during a press conference on Thursday that the cause of the fire is being thoroughly examined by the State Fire Service (PSP), the National Public Prosecutor's Office and the police.
Siemoniak emphasized the heightened scrutiny given to fires which occur near critical infrastructure due to the potential implications for national security and international relations.
The minister pointed to a disturbing trend of low-cost, high-impact sabotage operations. These are orchestrated by foreign intelligence, he said, particularly Russian services, and often involve hiring individuals for one-off tasks to carry out arson with amateurish equipment.
Siemoniak stressed the broader implications of such fires, mentioning incidents across Poland and in neighboring countries, such as Lithuania and the Czech Republic, which have also experienced sabotage attributed to Russian operatives.
The Polish authorities are examining possible connections between various recent fires across the country, indicating a potentially coordinated effort.
This includes fires in Warsaw, Bytom, Grodzisk Mazowiecki and Siemianowice.
Siemoniak expressed concern over the ripple effects of various incidents on public safety and national security, saying that even places not typically guarded by security forces, such as paint and construction material stores, may have been targeted.
The minister also said that intelligence received from NATO and European Union allies is being used in the ongoing investigation. He highlighted the significant challenge posed by the clandestine nature of these operations, which are believed to be aimed at creating chaos and destabilization.
Further emphasizing the severity of the threat, Siemoniak disclosed that recent intelligence from NATO and European Union allies indicates an ongoing and significant risk from Russian covert operations.
This includes a recent thwarted attempt by Russian agents to assassinate a German arms manufacturer executive, a plot that was intercepted by U.S. and German intelligence.
In terms of broader security measures, Siemoniak told reporters that critical infrastructure is protected in Poland "at the highest levels," despite some less secure sites being targeted.
The minister emphasized the continuous communication and large-scale information sharing among Polish security agencies and their international counterparts.
(rt/gs)
Source: IAR, PAP
