The suspected terrorist who detonated a bomb in a Paris hotel room is alleged to be a former Russian soldier who wanted to attack French companies supplying weapons to Ukraine.
The 26-year-old, who has not been named, was detained Thursday at the headquarters of France’s national intelligence service.
The terror suspect, originally from Ukraine’s war-torn Donbas region, suffered injuries to his face and arms after igniting TATP, an explosive dubbed “Mother of Satan” by ISIS and Al Qaeda, at the B&B hotel in Charles de Gaulle Airport on Monday afternoon.
On Thursday, a source close to the investigation confirmed that he “fought with the Russian military in Ukraine over the past few months.”
“He arrived in France very recently and was traveling with Russian and Ukrainian passports, as well as passports from other countries.
“There are indications that he was producing improvised bombs to attack companies that supply weapons to Ukraine.”
Photograph of one of the improvised explosive devices produced by a suspected Russian-Ukrainian terrorist, detained in Paris after an explosion on Monday
The airport suspect suffered severe burns to his face and arm after igniting triacetone triperoxide in an £80 room at the B&B hotel, within the perimeter of Charles De Gaulle airport, which is France’s largest.
The B&B hotel, which is located within the airport perimeter, was evacuated immediately after the incident and remained closed on Wednesday.
The explosion in Charles de Gaulle led to the arrest of the 26-year-old, whose name has not yet been identified.
It happened on Monday afternoon, just two days before world leaders, including US President Joe Biden, flew to the French capital in time for commemorations of the 80th anniversary of D-Day.
The airport suspect suffered serious burns to his face and arm after igniting triacetone triperoxide (TATP) in an £80 room at the B&B hotel, within the perimeter of the airport, which is the largest in France.
The chemicals were used by ISIS suicide bombers during the November 2015 attacks in Paris, which claimed 130 lives, and also by the Manchester Arena bomber in 2017, when 22 people were killed and more than 1,000 injured.
Terrorist groups behind such attacks, including ISIS and Al-Qaeda, frequently refer to TATP as “Mother of Satan.”
Details of the latest explosion in Paris were revealed on the day US President Joe Biden flew to the French capital in time for commemorations of the 80th anniversary of D-Day.
Other world leaders who will join Biden and French head of state Emmanuel Macron include King Charles and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Despite his injuries, the suspect was able to communicate with agents from the Directorate General of Internal Security (DGSI), France’s internal security service.
Anti-terrorism prosecutors were also informed and a formal investigation was opened into various alleged crimes.
“Initial findings revealed products and materials intended for the manufacture of explosive devices at the site,” a source from France’s national anti-terrorism prosecutor’s office told media outlet BFMTV.
A suspected Russian-Ukrainian terrorist has been arrested in Paris after causing an explosion near Charles de Gaulle, the city’s largest airport (file photo)
The explosion occurred on Monday in a hotel at Roissy-en-France airport, which was evacuated and later closed. Pictured: A French police officer stands guard at Charles de Gaulle airport during a recent opening ceremony ahead of the Olympic Games, which will be held in Paris this summer.
‘One of the improvised explosive devices exploded. The hotel had to be evacuated.
“The man, of Russian and Ukrainian nationality, who was conscious despite his injuries, explained to investigators that he had made homemade batteries for mobile phones when one of them exploded.”
Several security sources later confirmed that traces of TATP were found in the B&B hotel.
The batteries were covered in plastic, with a match, gunpowder and lighters inside a package, the same sources said.
On Wednesday, calls to the hotel, which is a short walk from all Charles de Gaulle terminals, went unanswered.
In addition to improvised bomb-making material, DGSI investigators found “multiple passports” in the man’s luggage.
The 2-star B&B tourist hotel, widely used by British travelers, was immediately evacuated and remained closed on Wednesday.
It has 226 non-smoking, air-conditioned rooms and describes itself as a “cheap, well-located hotel with 24-hour check-in.”
Its advertising claims that it is “very close to the largest French and Parisian airport, so you are no longer at risk of missing your flight.”
According to another source in the investigation, the suspect had arrived in France “very recently” and had stayed at the B&B hotel under his own name.
The suspect is said to be recovering well from his injuries and cooperating with officials.
Anti-terrorist prosecutors confirmed that they have opened an investigation for “participation in a terrorist criminal association with the purpose of preparing crimes of attacks against people, possession of an incendiary or explosive substance or product or of elements intended to compose an explosive device with the purpose to prepare the destruction and damage or harm to people, in relation to a terrorist enterprise.’
There have been numerous high-level warnings about possible Russian attacks on European soil during the current war between Russia and Ukraine.
President Joe Biden disembarks from Air Force One on Wednesday as he lands at Orly Airport in Paris, just two days after an explosion occurred at Charles de Gaulle Airport.
The incident occurred on Monday afternoon, just two days before world leaders, including US President Joe Biden, flew to the French capital in time for commemorations of the 80th anniversary of D-Day. Pictured: President Joe Biden is greeted by French Prime Minister Gabriel Attal, left, at Paris Orly airport.
Vladimir Putin is accused of stepping up espionage efforts against Europe in a more aggressive and concerted manner.
Last month, the Financial Times reported aAt least three European governments have received information that Russia is stepping up its sabotage efforts in a more aggressive and concerted manner.
Intelligence officials believe Russian agents have begun preparations for covert bombings and arson attacks against European infrastructure without concern for civilian deaths.
They are also willing to use proxy servers or carry out attacks themselves.
Russia, famous for its strong espionage capabilities, has been caught supporting or directly participating in anti-European incidents that have put the lives of many, including high-level politicians, at risk.
The arrest in Paris comes after Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk warned of Moscow-led agents plotting atrocities in Europe.
In May, Tusk said nine people had been arrested for allegedly preparing acts of sabotage in EU member states in coordination with Russian intelligence.
He said those detained were Belarusian, Polish and Ukrainian citizens, possibly recruited into organized crime groups.
They were all charged with “beatings, arson and attempted arson” and were “directly involved on behalf of the Russian services in acts of sabotage in Poland.”
They were also suspected of preparing attacks in Lithuania, Latvia and possibly Sweden, he said.
Multiple European intelligence agencies also warned their governments that Russia was planning violence across the continent.