Berlin, Germany, 21 August (Brussles Morning Newspaper) – Two loaded guns near Berlin, found concealed in woodland, were intended to be used in attacks, according to German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt, as federal prosecutors investigate suspected espionage and preparations for serious violence.
Loaded guns discovered in secret woodland cache
The firearms were discovered in October 2025 after Germany’s domestic intelligence service received information pointing investigators towards a concealed weapons cache.
Two handguns and ammunition were found in woodland in Brandenburg, close to the German capital, according to German media reports.
Rather than immediately removing the cache, investigators reportedly made the weapons unusable and continued watching the location in an attempt to identify whoever was expected to collect them.
No one returned.
The operation nevertheless gave investigators a potentially significant lead in an inquiry that has since expanded beyond Germany.
Authorities have not disclosed the precise location of the cache or identified any specific target that may have been under threat.
Dobrindt says weapons were intended for attacks
Dobrindt publicly confirmed the investigation on Friday and gave the clearest indication yet of how seriously German security authorities view the discovery.
The interior minister said the weapons were “intended to carry out attacks”, while describing the wider security threat facing Germany as high.
Germany’s Federal Prosecutor’s Office is investigating suspected intelligence activity as well as the preparation of a serious act of violence threatening state security.
Officials have not said whether investigators believe an attack was imminent when the firearms were discovered.
Investigators examine possible Russian connection
German broadcasters NDR and WDR, together with Süddeutsche Zeitung, have reported that investigators are examining whether the cache could have been established for operatives working on behalf of Russia.
Dobrindt has not publicly confirmed Russian responsibility, and investigators have not presented evidence establishing that the Russian state ordered or controlled the alleged operation.
The distinction remains important while the criminal investigation continues.
German security agencies have repeatedly warned about espionage, sabotage and other forms of hostile activity amid heightened tensions between Moscow and European governments following Russia’s war against Ukraine.
Suspect detained in Romania
The investigation has also led authorities outside Germany.
A suspect connected to the case is being held in Romania, where authorities are conducting a separate investigation into alleged attack preparations.
Dobrindt described the individual as a low-level agent. German and Romanian authorities are cooperating, but further details about the suspect and the alleged plans have not been publicly released.
There has also been no official confirmation that the guns near Berlin were intended for a particular operation in Germany, Romania or another European country.
Why the discovery matters for Germany
The way the firearms were concealed is central to the investigation.
A hidden cache could allow an operative to obtain weapons without meeting the person who supplied them, potentially making it more difficult for security agencies to identify those involved.
The discovery therefore raises questions extending beyond the two firearms themselves: who placed them there, who knew where they were hidden and who was supposed to collect them?
Those questions remain unanswered publicly.
What Happens Next?
Federal prosecutors will continue examining the suspected intelligence operation and the alleged preparations for serious violence.
Investigators are expected to focus on identifying who created the cache and determining whether it was connected to a wider network or other suspected operations.
German authorities will also continue cooperating with Romania over the detained suspect.
For now, officials have confirmed the discovery and the suspected purpose of the weapons, but no intended target has been publicly identified and allegations of Russian involvement remain under investigation.
