Prosecutors in Poland have launched a terrorism investigation into a fire at a drone factory in the city of Skarżysko-Kamienna.
In a statement, prosecutors said the fire, which broke out at a WB Electronics factory, was started deliberately “by planting an explosive device containing flammable materials.”
CCTV footage had reportedly captured an unidentified person in a balaclava who allegedly entered the premises after climbing a fence. A backpack and a sweatshirt were also found near the site.
WB Electronics is the largest private arms company in Poland. Its reconnaissance and attack drones are used by the Ukrainian armed forces.
Prosecutors said in their statement that an investigation had been launched into “participation in the activities of a foreign intelligence service against the Republic of Poland and the commission of a terrorist offense, consisting of the deliberate setting of a fire on August 31, 2026, on the premises of WB Electronics S.A. in Skarżysko-Kamienna.”
It added: “As a result of the fire, warehouse facilities were destroyed, and the value of the damage caused amounts to at least 15 million PLN.”
Investigation
The local fire service said the fire at the facility “was not large” and that firefighters took just under two hours to tackle it.
After the blaze had been put out, police officers secured the scene and began a detailed investigation.
A fire investigation expert is also working at the scene.
WB Group responds
The plant in Skarżysko-Kamienna produces components for unmanned systems destined for the Polish army.
Remigiusz Wilk of WB Group told TVN24 that the company has enjoyed the trust of the Polish military and other armies for years.
“We are, in a sense, part of Poland’s security system as a major entity that cooperates with thousands of enterprises across the country – from very small firms to giants such as the Polish Armaments Group, which is a subcontractor in some of our projects,” Wilk said.
“When it comes to unmanned systems worldwide, we are one of the largest manufacturers. These are not single platforms; they are systems linked together into one large ‘ecosystem,'” he said.
Speaking about the fire, Wilk said the facility would be ready to resume production as soon as authorities completed their work. He added that he did not expect the incident to cause delays in deliveries to the Polish armed forces.
Second similar fire within 24 hours
The incident marked the second similar fire in 24 hours.
On Sunday, firefighters were called to a blaze at a warehouse in Lublin belonging to a company that produces aircraft parts.
Asked about a possible link between the two incidents, Karolina Galecka, a spokeswoman for the Polish Ministry of the Interior and Administration, said authorities would investigate every possible lead.
British newspaper “The Telegraph,” citing western intelligence sources, recently reported on a series of suspected Russian sabotage operations in Europe targeting arms factories and companies supplying weapons to Ukraine.
According to those reports, the operations are being carried out in a way designed to stay below the threshold that could trigger NATO’s Article 5, which commits allies to collective defence should one of them come under attack.