Poland's National Prosecutor's Office has classified a fire at the WB Electronics defense plant in Skarzysko-Kamienna as sabotage carried out on the orders of foreign intelligence services. The case is being investigated under articles on creating a public danger and on participating in the activities of foreign intelligence involving sabotage, subversion, or terrorism, which carry penalties of up to life imprisonment.
The fire broke out on the night of August 31 in an assembly hall while the building was closed and unoccupied. No charges have been filed yet. Damage to the enterprise is estimated at 15 million zlotys (over $4 million).
According to Polish media, surveillance cameras captured a person in a balaclava climbing over the fence. One of the workers raised the alarm. Before fleeing, the man allegedly took bottles of gasoline from his backpack, poured the liquid, and ignited it with a lighter. He did not manage to use all the contents of the backpack. Near the plant, police found a hoodie and a backpack allegedly belonging to the suspect. Investigators are determining whether he acted on the orders of foreign intelligence.
WB Electronics is Poland's largest private defense company. The plant produces composite structures and control systems for drones used by the Polish and Ukrainian armies.
In a press release, the prosecutor's office called the incident a "crime of a terrorist nature." According to the agency, the fire was caused by the placement of a charge containing flammable materials.