Kremlin's foreknowledge of German attacks: ZDF investigation reveals clues
Investigations by journalists from the German ZDF suggest that sites of attacks in Germany were searched on the Russian internet prior to the incidents. This raises the possibility that the Kremlin might have been aware of the attacks in advance.
What do you need to know?
- ZDF investigation: Journalists from the German public broadcaster ZDF discovered that sites of attacks in Germany were being searched on the Russian internet before they took place.
- Attack in Mannheim: On 31 May 2024, a terrorist attack occurred in Mannheim, resulting in the death of a police officer and injuries to six other people.
- Expert's comment: Dr Marek Madej from the University of Warsaw suggests that Russia may be exploiting radical Islamist movements for its own ends.
What are the evidences of Russia's prior knowledge?
ZDF journalists revealed that a few days before the attack in Mannheim, there were queries on the Russian internet regarding terrorist attacks in Germany.
Search terms such as "terrorist attack in Mannheim" and "attack in Germany" were noted. Moreover, there were inquiries about the anti-Islamic activist Michael Stürzenberger, who was indeed injured during the attack.
Journalists from ZDF emphasised that these clues do not provide direct evidence of a connection between the attacker, who was motivated by Islamic extremism, and Russian services. However, it is challenging to ignore these points, especially given the context of hybrid attacks in Western Europe inspired by the Kremlin.
Is Russia using radical Islamist movements?
Dr Marek Madej from the University of Warsaw stressed in an interview with "Fakt" that Russia may be exploiting individuals involved in radical Islamist movements to serve its own purposes.
- Individual radicalised units can be somehow 'picked up' by Kremlin services and further inspired by them to carry out attacks in countries perceived as hostile by Russia, - the expert stated.
What risks are associated with supporting radicalisation?
Dr Marek Madej notes that supporting the radicalisation of Muslims in the West could lead to a surge in similar sentiments within Russia.
- Hybrid operations pose a certain risk for Russia, because if their mechanism is unmasked, it becomes more challenging to execute them again - summarised the expert.
