Intelligence chiefs warn Russia threatens Germany

Oct 5

Tagesschau reports the public Bundestag hearing of Germany's three intelligence chiefs. Frank Jahn says they identify Russia as the greatest threat and see Moscow behind the failed Leipzig/Halle airport attack. BND president Martin Jäger warns of a possible violent conflict and calls Leipzig an example of Russia's direct, extensive threat. Sinan Selen describes espionage, sabotage and willingness to conduct assassinations; Martina Rosenberg calls incidents involving the armed forces concrete attacks on Germany. The anchor links Russia's targeting of Germany to support for Ukraine. Jahn then explains coalition proposals allowing intelligence services to disable hackers' servers or weapons. Opposition critics fear erosion of the separation between intelligence collection and police intervention and demand changes. The reforms remain under parliamentary consideration; no adoption or independently resolved attribution is reported.

At the public Berlin oversight hearing, BND president Martin Jäger warns that confrontation with Russia has become more dangerous and that Germany risks violent conflict. BfV president Sinan Selen describes threats of sabotage and killings against transport, defense industry and military infrastructure, including possible civilian victims. In Tagesthemen's live clarification, Kornmeier says the chiefs nevertheless gave no indication that Russia plans an attack on NATO territory. These are attributed risk assessments, not a confirmed impending attack. Tagesschau's earlier October 5 package adds Martina Rosenberg calling the incidents concrete attacks on Germany, with an inaudible word left uncertain, and links Russia's targeting of Germany to German support for Ukraine. Jäger's Leipzig example and Selen's espionage/sabotage/assassination warning remain attributed official assessments. Tagesthemen's express absence of an indication of a planned NATO-territory attack remains intact. At the October 5 Berlin PKGr hearing, Jäger, Rosenberg and Selen describe concrete threats to Germany and Russian attempts to intimidate society and disrupt Ukraine support, transport, defence production and military infrastructure. Jäger calls the confrontation an undeclared shadow war; Selen describes expansion rather than replacement of espionage, sabotage, low-level agents and possible organized-crime methods. Rosenberg reports persistent military-site drone activity but says troops remain vigilant rather than demonstrably intimidated. In questioning, the chiefs advocate credible deterrence, public resilience and international cooperation. These are their attributed threat assessments and operational explanations, not confirmation of every suspected drone’s origin or an announced state of defence.