Attack on defence firm Threod Systems attempted in Estonia; eight Latvian residents detained

An attempt was made in Estonia in the early hours of Sunday, 15 November, at 3:06 a.m., to attack a building of the defence-sector company Threod Systems by causing an explosion and setting it on fire. Estonia's Internal Security Service, working with the Police and Border Guard Board, has detained eight suspects, all of whom live in Latvia. According to the security service, the attack was carried out on the orders of Russia's military intelligence agency, the GRU, Delfi.ee reports.

What happened

The company suffered no significant damage. Both its own security measures and the quick reaction of a guard helped prevent more serious consequences. The first procedural steps were carried out at the company's site in Viimsi municipality shortly after the incident.

The prosecutor's office has not yet said which countries' citizens the detainees are. Prosecutor General Astrid Asi said criminal proceedings were opened over acts directed against Estonia's security, including gathering information or damaging property on behalf of a foreign intelligence or security service officer. The prosecution has asked a court to remand five of the suspects in custody. The investigation is to establish how the attack was organised, the roles of those involved and possible links to other people.

Security service assessment

Margo Pallo, head of the Internal Security Service, said effective cross-border cooperation makes the Baltic states a difficult environment for hostile operations. Latvia's State Security Service and the Latvian prosecutor's office also contributed significantly to the investigation.

The service stresses that defence companies in Estonia and elsewhere in Europe are of interest to Russian special services. It says such attacks aim to spread fear among the public and businesses, disrupt production and technological development, and stop their products and technology reaching Ukraine. Companies are urged to strengthen physical and cyber security.

Earlier incident

In August, a building used by the company Milrem Robotics in Estonia was set on fire; nobody was hurt. On 19 August the prosecutor's office said three people from Latvia were involved in that arson. The State Prosecutor's Office leads the criminal case, and the Internal Security Service conducts the investigation.