NATO: Attempt on Rheinmetall CEO's life is part of Russian sabotage campaign

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.

As reported by Reuters, during his speech, Appathurai confirmed during his speech at the European Parliament that there has been a death threat against Rheinmetall CEO Armin Papperger, which had only been reported by the media before.

UPDATED at 17:20, January 29. "European Pravda" has removed a quote from a NATO spokesperson about former US President Joe Biden's "call" to Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin due to changes in the original source. Reuters corrected the text, explaining that the NATO official had misspoken.

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. 

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.

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.

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.