Exclusive: Police investigate whether spies placed incendiary package that caught alight in Birmingham

Counter-terrorism police are investigating whether Russian spies planted an incendiary device on a plane to Britain that later caught fire at a DHL warehouse in Birmingham, the Guardian can reveal.

Nobody was reported injured in the fire on 22 July at a warehouse in the suburb of Minworth that handles parcels for delivery, and the blaze was dealt with by the local fire brigade and by staff.

The parcel is believed to have arrived at the DHL warehouse by air, though it is not known if it was a cargo or passenger aircraft, nor where it was destined for. There could have been serious consequences if it had ignited during the flight.

A similar incident occurred in Germany, also in late July, when a suspect package bound for a flight caught fire at another DHL facility in Leipzig, and investigators are looking at links between the two. German authorities warned this week that had the parcel caught fire mid-air it could have downed the plane.

  • @[email protected]
    34•1 month ago

    Russia’s motive appears to have been to try to inflict a cost on western allies of Ukraine, though the plots are at times precise and at others poorly coordinated and amateurish. But the Kremlin usually denies it is engaged in sabotage activity and has in the past dismissed its accusers of engaging in conspiracy theories.

    The German flight was delayed. Had it taken off on time, the package would have combusted in the air.

    • @[email protected]English
      9•1 month ago

      So weird to rely on a timer for stuff like that. The reliable way would be to measure air pressure if you want to account for delays and make sure you don’t accidentally trigger it on the ground.

      • Flying SquidMEnglish
        2•1 month ago

        I would think a remote detonator might work too considering you can track a commercial flight easily.

      • @raspberriesareyummyEnglish
        2•1 month ago

        Just submitted a similar comment. Thank you for pointing this out as well.

    • @[email protected]English
      3•1 month ago

      I don’t think that we have a great way of dealing with cargo hold fires today, which is why you have to carry laptops as carry-on, rather than as checked luggage in the cargo hold.

      https://www.seattletimes.com/business/one-overheated-laptop-battery-in-cargo-hold-could-down-airliner-study-says/

      One overheated laptop battery in cargo hold could down airliner, study says

      A single personal electronic device that overheats and catches fire in checked luggage on an airliner can overpower the aircraft’s fire-suppression system, potentially creating a fire that could rage uncontrolled, according to new government research.

      Regulators had thought that single lithium-battery fires would be knocked down by the flame-retardant gas required in passenger airliner cargo holds. But tests conducted by the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration found the suppression systems can’t extinguish a battery fire that combines with other highly flammable material, such as the gas in an aerosol can or cosmetics commonly carried by travelers.

      The research highlights the growing risks of lithium batteries, which are increasingly used to power everything from mobile phones to gaming devices. Bulk shipments of rechargeable lithium batteries have been banned on passenger planes.

      • @TheEighthDoctorEnglish
        2•1 month ago

        I think you can depressurize the cargo hold, of course every pet there would die but the fire would die as well.

        • @[email protected]English
          3•1 month ago

          I thought of that, but I don’t think it’s an option. From reading about past air disasters – one of which involved depressurization of the cargo hold that turned into a cascading failure of the plane – my understanding is that the pressurized area includes both the cabin and cargo area. The plane isn’t structurally designed to depressurize the cargo area while keeping the cabin pressurized.

          • @TheEighthDoctorEnglish
            2•1 month ago

            I read more about it after your comment and it seems I was confused, it’s not depressurization it’s cutting off the airflow to starve the fire of oxygen and release of Halon 1301, keeping it’s concentration at a certain level. At least in Boeing aircraft, I didn’t find Airbus documentation.

      • babybusEnglish
        2•1 month ago

        I think most major airlines in Europe actually allow you to check in your personal electronic devices, although there are some restrictions. Cargo compartments are equipped with fire detectors and fire suppression systems. Your flight is more than likely to land safely in case if that happens, even though that might require an emergency landing at the nearest airport.

      • @BlumpkinheadEnglish
        1•1 month ago

        I’d just like to add that smart bags (that have lithium batteries for charging devices) also pose this risk. They’ve become more popular with travelers over the past few years.

        If you use one of these, please be sure to remove the battery before checking your bag!

    • Dr. MooseEnglish
      1•1 month ago

      Crazy that it was this close.