BERLIN — The U.S. and Germany foiled a Russian plot to assassinate the chief executive of German arms manufacturer Rheinmetall, Armin Papperger.
The plan to kill the CEO was part of a series of Russian plots to assassinate defense industry executives across Europe, CNN reported Thursday, citing U.S. and Western intelligence officials.
Rheinmetall is Germany’s largest and most successful manufacturer of 155mm artillery shells, a critical asset for the Ukrainians in their war against Russia.
The company is also opening an armored vehicle plant inside Ukraine in the coming weeks, a development which is concerning for Russia, according to CNN.
The German Interior Ministry declined to comment specifically on CNN’s report in an email to POLITICO, but a spokesperson said: “Our security authorities are very vigilant and act accordingly, in close cooperation with our international partners.”
The plot against Papperger was the Russian government’s most sophisticated plan, CNN’s report states.
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