Berlin is taking reports of a plot to assassinate Armin Papperger, the chief executive of Rheinmetall, very seriously and refuses to be intimidated by Russian threats, the German government announced on Friday.
CNN and the New York Times reported that U.S. intelligence had uncovered a Russian plan to kill Papperger.
Rheinmetall has produced artillery shells and military vehicles for Ukraine.
This plot is part of a broader Russian effort to target defense industry executives across Europe supporting Ukraine’s war effort.
The U.S. informed Germany, and German security services successfully protected Papperger.
“We will not allow ourselves to be intimidated by Russia and will continue to do everything we can to prevent Russian threats in Germany,” stated Germany’s Interior Minister Nancy Faeser.
Rheinmetall, one of the world’s largest producers of artillery and tank shells, has not confirmed these reports but assured that “necessary measures are always taken” for security, in regular consultation with authorities.
The Kremlin dismissed these reports as fake and based on anonymous sources.
In response, German defense group Hensoldt and Diehl, both involved in Ukraine’s defense, said they were reassessing and closely monitoring their safety measures.
BAE Systems also emphasized their rigorous and constantly reviewed security protocols.
In April, German authorities arrested two German-Russian nationals for plotting sabotage attacks, including on U.S. military facilities, to undermine support for Ukraine.
Germany has previously accused Russia of the 2019 murder of a Chechen-Georgian dissident in Berlin. Justice Minister Marco Buschmann emphasized the seriousness of further murder plans, stating, “Our security forces are well positioned. Russia wants to weaken us, but it will not succeed.”
The Washington Post reported extensive Russian efforts to recruit for sabotage attacks, citing Kremlin documents. These documents revealed that Kremlin strategists in July 2023 reviewed Facebook profiles of workers at major German plants to identify potential recruits for unrest.
Rheinmetall’s value and Papperger’s profile have risen due to increased defense spending following the Russian invasion.
Papperger, advocating for more arms deliveries to Ukraine, is always accompanied by security guards. His garden house was set on fire by far-left activists earlier this year, highlighting concerns for his safety.
Papperger expressed gratitude for his security, saying, “There are probably some people in the world who don’t like what I do… The Federal Republic of Germany is making sure that I am safe.”
The Financial Times reported that Papperger’s protection levels now match those of Chancellor Olaf Scholz.
Roderich Kiesewetter, vice-chair of the parliamentary intelligence oversight committee, warned of potential further Russian attacks in Germany, emphasizing that Russia has been designated a terrorist state by a German court.