A tool discovered within the constructing of a Russian information company in Berlin was “most likely” explosive, German police stated Saturday.
Police had initially been known as to the placement on Friday afternoon after an empty beer bottle was thrown on the constructing’s facade.
The gadget was found within the basement of a spot “housing the workplace of a Russian press company,” Ria Novosti, within the metropolis’s Steglitz district, police stated Saturday.
“Yesterday, emergency companies discovered a harmful object on the constructing of a Russian information company in Steglitz, which was most likely an incendiary gadget,” Berlin police tweeted. “It was destroyed by specialists.”
Unclear intentions
Whether or not it was a deliberate assault was initially unclear, a police spokesperson instructed German information company DPA.
“There are additionally places of work of different corporations within the constructing,” the spokesperson stated. “The background just isn’t but recognized, the investigation is ongoing.”
Ria Novosti claims ‘doable terror assault’
The Russian state-owned information company reacted on Telegram by saying that the putting of the gadget constituted “a doable terrorist assault in opposition to Russian journalists and their households” in Berlin.
The incident got here as Russia prepares to carry conventional Victory Day festivities on Monday to mark the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany whereas tensions endure over its invasion of Ukraine.
Relating to the Could 9 commemorations, home intelligence in Germany is anticipating “automotive parades and demonstrations” in assist of Russia, and probably the invasion of Ukraine, to happen in Berlin and the state of North Rhine-Westphalia.
Russian state-owned information company RIA Novosti is headquartered in Moscow.
jsi/wd (AFP, Reuters, dpa)