On Tuesday, July 29, 2025, the Internal Security Agency (ABW) announced that, following an investigation into acts of sabotage targeting the Republic of Poland, an additional charge of committing a terrorist offense on Polish territory was brought against a Colombian national on July 21 in Prague. The new charge supplements the previously filed charges. The suspect has partially admitted guilt and provided explanations, which are currently being verified. For the crimes committed in Poland, he faces a sentence ranging from 10 years in prison to life imprisonment.
Photo: gov.pl
The investigation against the man suspected of acting on behalf of a foreign intelligence service against the Republic of Poland and committing terrorist offenses, prohibited acts under Article 130 § 7 of the Polish Penal Code, is being conducted by the Radom branch of the Internal Security Agency (ABW), under the supervision of the Lublin Division of the Department for Organized Crime and Corruption of the National Prosecutor’s Office.
The case concerns the arson of two construction warehouses in Poland’s Mazowieckie Province in May 2024. These attacks were ordered, coordinated, and financed by an individual linked to the Russian intelligence services. The suspect received detailed instructions from his handler regarding the intended target and method of attack, including how to make a Molotov cocktail and what type of vehicle to use.
The modus operandi uncovered by ABW aligns with similar incidents reported across several Central and Eastern European countries. It has been confirmed that Russian intelligence services systematically recruited individuals of Latin American origin—often with military backgrounds—via the Telegram messenger app. These individuals were tasked with scouting specified locations, setting fire to designated targets, and documenting the destruction. Russian-language media outlets then used the resulting photos and videos for disinformation and propaganda purposes. The recruitment of South American nationals entering EU countries under visa-free travel agreements was driven solely by the promise of quick and easy money.
In June 2025, the Colombian national was sentenced by a Czech court to eight years in prison for setting fire to a bus depot in Prague and planning an arson attack on a shopping mall. He pleaded guilty. According to a statement by the Czech Prime Minister, Russian intelligence services were involved in the case.
As part of proceedings supported by Eurojust, a Joint Investigation Team (JIT) was established, involving judicial authorities from Poland, the Czech Republic, Romania, and Lithuania. The investigation, led by the ABW branch in Radom, remains ongoing.