German Interior Minister taking threats from Russia 'very seriously'

German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser on Friday said she is taking the threat from Russia "very seriously," as the fallout from an alleged Russian plot to assassinate the head of German arms maker Rheinmetall continued.

"We are not commenting on individual threats," the minister told dpa in Berlin after CNN first reported the story on Thursday. "But one thing is very clear: we are taking the significantly increased threat of Russian aggression very seriously."

Faeser said Germany is taking action together with international partners and security authorities to protect itself and thwart Russian President Vladimir Putin's plans.

Putin's regime is aiming to undermine support for Ukraine, Faeser said, adding: "We will not be intimidated."

Protective measures have been massively ramped up in the face of Russian threats since Putin ordered the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the minister said. "The threats range from espionage, sabotage and cyberattacks to state terrorism," she stated.

Faeser highlighted two possible acts of sabotage that German counterintelligence services prevented in April. At that time, two men were arrested in Bavaria and accused of planning sabotage attacks against German support for Ukraine.

"Our security authorities acted very consistently and prevented possible explosives attacks in Germany," Faeser explained. "We will continue to do everything we can to prevent Russian threats in Germany."