- German politicians have expressed outrage
- This follows reports to assassinate Armin
- Russia vehemently denied the allegations
German politicians have expressed outrage following a CNN report alleging a Russian plot to assassinate Armin Papperger, CEO of Rheinmetall, Germany’s largest arms manufacturer.
According to the report, US intelligence officials informed their German counterparts earlier this year about the assassination plot, leading to heightened security measures for Mr. Papperger.
While the German Interior Ministry declined to comment, Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock appeared to confirm the details, stating at the NATO summit, “This aligns with what we’ve been increasingly clear about in recent months: Russia is waging a hybrid war of aggression.”
Russia vehemently denied the allegations through Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, calling them “another fake story.”
Rheinmetall itself avoided commenting on “corporate security” matters, but Mr. Papperger is reportedly now the most heavily guarded figure in German industry. He confirmed to the Financial Times that German authorities had implemented “a great deal of security around my person.”
The significance of Rheinmetall lies in its role as a major global ammunition producer and a key supplier of arms, armored vehicles, and other military equipment to Ukraine. The company recently opened a tank repair facility in western Ukraine and signed a deal to expand cooperation, including joint artillery shell production.
While Chancellor Olaf Scholz refrained from directly addressing the assassination plot, he acknowledged Germany’s exposure to various Russian threats and assured close attention to the situation.
