Poland’s Internal Security Agency (ABW) has charged a Colombian national with committing a terrorist act, the agency said in a statement on 29 July. At the time of the indictment, he was already in custody in Prague.
According to investigators, the man was involved in the arson of two construction warehouses in Mazowieckie voivodeship in 2024 on assignment from Russian special services.
A representative of the Russian secret service reportedly controlled the actions of the accused and financed him: the Colombian citizen received from him detailed instructions on how to carry out the terrorist attack, including for the manufacture of a Molotov cocktail.
ABW notes that Russian intelligence services systematically recruit citizens of Latin American countries via telegrams for reconnaissance and arson attacks. Photos and videos taken during the mission were then used by Russian-language media for disinformation and propaganda purposes.
“Attempts by the Russian secret services to inspire South American citizens travelling to visa-free EU countries to commit crimes were based solely on the motive of making quick and easy money,” the Polish secret service said in a statement.