NATO: Attempt on Rheinmetall CEO’s life is part of Russian sabotage campaign
Pravda Ukraine
James Appathurai, NATO’s Deputy Assistant Secretary General for Innovation, Hybrid, and Cyber Technologies, stated that recent acts of sabotage across the alliance included assassination threats against industry leaders, such as the head of the German arms manufacturer Rheinmetall.
Source: European Pravda, citing Appathurai during his speech at the European Parliament, as reported by Reuters on 28 January
During his speech, Appathurai confirmed that there has been a death threat against Rheinmetall CEO Armin Papperger, which had only been reported by the media before.
He explained that the sabotage campaign involved “derailment of trains, acts of arson, attacks on politicians’ property, threats to plot to assassinate industry leaders like, publicly, the head of Rheinmetall but there were other plots as well.”
Appathurai noted that in the past, the West had successfully deterred Russia from carrying out sabotage by setting red lines at the highest levels, citing the discovery of incendiary devices at a German warehouse intended for DHL shipments.
Quote: “[Former US] President Biden called [Russian leader Vladimir] Putin (…) and said: This is too much. And it stopped,” he said.
Appathurai emphasized that Russia “can be deterred” if red lines are clearly defined and effectively communicated.
He also stated that the West does not consider the current level of sabotage – deemed to be at an all-time high by NATO – acceptable. There is a strong consensus among NATO members that a more determined response is needed to address the recurring incidents in the Baltic Sea.
For reference: Rheinmetall is the largest and most successful German manufacturer of crucial 155mm artillery shells, which have become a key weapon in the war in Ukraine.
Background:
- Supporters of the left-wing extremist group RAF claimed responsibility for setting fire to the garden house of Rheinmetall CEO Armin Papperger on the night of 29 April. They accused him of profiting from arms sales.
- In July, CNN reported that the US and Germany had prevented a Russian plot to assassinate Papperger.
- As a result, Germany provided him with the highest level of security.
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