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ARCHIVED - Russian intelligence suspected of ordering white supremacists to mail bombs in Spain
US and European officials believe the militant group is behind a letter bomb campaign targeting prominant Spanish figures
A Russian-based white supremacist group was ordered by Russian intelligence officers to send letter bombs to Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez and other high-profile Spanish targets in late 2022, according to American and European officials.
Six letter bombs were mailed in late November and early December to Moncloa Palace, the residence and office of President Pedro Sánchez; the American and Ukrainian Embassies; the Defense Ministry; diplomatic representations in Madrid, an arms manufacturer in Zaragoza and Torrejón de Ardoz air base outside Madrid.
US officials have blasted the attacks as "terrorism", and although nobody was killed in the attacks, an employee of the Ukrainian Embassy was injured when one of the packages exploded.
In recent weeks, Spanish and foreign investigators have focused their inquiries on the Russian Imperial Movement, a radical group that has members and associates across Europe and military-style training centres in St Petersburg.
US officials told the New York Times that the group, which has been designated a "global terrorist organisation" by the US State Department, is believed to have links to Russian intelligence agencies.
Key members of the group have been to Spain, and police have traced the group's links to Spanish far-right organisations, said the sources.
American officials say that the Russian officers who directed the campaign appeared determined to keep European governments off guard and may be testing out proxy groups in the event Moscow decides to escalate a conflict.
The apparent motive for the letter bombs campaign was to signal that Russia and its proxies could carry out terrorist attacks across Europe, including in the capitals of NATO member states, which is helping Ukraine defend itself against Russia's invasion.
Spain is a member of the alliance and has provided military and humanitarian aid to Ukraine, as well as diplomatic support.
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