A 38-year-old Romanian man has been arrested in connection with a fire at a DHL warehouse in Birmingham that was caused by a suspected Russian incendiary device.
Counter-terrorism police have been investigating the fire at the facility in the suburb of Minworth. Nobody was reported injured in last July’s blaze, which was dealt with by the local fire brigade and staff.
The parcel is believed to have arrived at the DHL warehouse by air, though it is not known if it was in a cargo or passenger aircraft, nor where it was destined for, the Guardian previously reported. Photographs of the fire have backed up intelligence assessments that there could have been serious consequences if the device had ignited during the flight.
The Romanian national was arrested on 19 March, after arriving at Stansted airport on an inbound flight, the Metropolitan police said. The man was arrested on suspicion of assisting a foreign intelligence service, under section 3 of the National Security Act 2023, the force added.
A police spokesperson said: “We can confirm that officers from counter-terrorism policing are investigating an incident at a commercial premises in Midpoint Way, Minworth.
“On Monday 22 July, a package at the location caught alight. It was dealt with by staff and the local fire brigade at the time and there were no reports of any injuries or significant damage caused.
“Due to the circumstances, and the specialist capability and expertise in investigating such matters, the investigation is being led by officers from the Met’s counter-terrorism command with support from colleagues from Counter Terrorism Policing West Midlands.
“The investigation remains ongoing and one man has been arrested for offences under the National Security Act.”
The Met said the man was taken to a London police station before being released on bail to a date in July. Officers also made searches at two addresses in Essex.
The spokesperson added: “As part of our inquiries, officers are liaising with other European law enforcement partners to identify whether this may or may not be connected to any other similar-type incidents across Europe.”
The Guardian previously reported that British investigators suspect the incendiary device is part of a wider campaign that Russian spies have been carrying out across Europe.
A similar incident occurred in Germany, also in late July 2024, when a package bound for a flight caught fire at a DHL warehouse in Leipzig. German authorities said that had the parcel caught fire mid-air it could have downed the plane. Sources later indicated the suspect package in Leipzig was also bound for the UK.
