On August 30, a warehouse in Lublin burned down, and at night from August 30 to 31, the fire appeared in the WB Electronics plant in Skarżysko-Kamienna. The losses were initially estimated at around EUR 5 million and at least PLN 15 million. The prosecutions are investigating both events which, according to Minister Marcin Kierwiński, are most likely not connected. For Poland it is simply a test of defence manufacture protection.
Two fires in tens of hours.
The first fire broke out on 30 August in a warehouse hall in Lublin. The company that owns the facility initially estimated losses at around EUR 5 million. The Lublin territory Attorney's Office examines respective versions, including deliberate arson, failure of electrical installation and accidental ignition of fire. At this stage, there is no reason to consider 1 of them to be settled.
The following night the fire appeared in the WB-owned Electronics plant in Skarżysko-Kamienna. The fire was rapidly contained, but according to the prosecution the harm amounted to at least PLN 15 million. The investigation includes the suspicion of intentional ignition of fire and the anticipation of abroad intelligence against the Republic. No 1 has been declared guilty.
The Minister separates both proceedings
Minister of Interior and Administration Marcin Kierwiński said on 1 September that fires are most likely separate events. In the case of Lublin, he did not have a strong conviction about sabotage. In the case of Skarżyska, however, it considered that the available information indicated an act of intentional action. Final findings belong to the prosecution and the services.
That difference is important. The state must tell the truth, especially erstwhile it comes to security. Connecting 2 loud fires without evidence would make it easier to spread panic and misinformation. But it would be equally irresponsible to underestimate any of them.
Former SKW officer warns against diversion
Mariusz Kozłowski, a erstwhile Military Counterintelligence Service officer, estimated in a conversation with Virtual Poland that the common context of both events is simply a threat to companies active in the production of components utilized in unmanned technologies. His words are an expert opinion, not an investigative finding.
Polish defence plants are a natural mark for exploration, sabotage attempts and hybrid activities. The WB Group produces unmanned systems utilized by the Polish Army and Ukraine. The importance of Polish solutions of the WB Group besides grows abroad. The protection of specified undertakings is not a private substance for the owner of the hall. It concerns state defence capabilities and continuity of supplies to the army.
The protection of establishments must outweigh the threat
The services should find how an outsider could get to the site of the Skarżysko-Kamienna plant, what safeguards worked and where the gap arose. There is besides a request to review the protection of companies belonging to the defence supply chain: subcontractors, warehouses, transport and information systems. The opponent usually seeks the weakest link, not the most spectacular goal.
Investigation of fire at WB Electronics plant should conclude with a clear communication on the findings within the limits acceptable to the good of the proceedings. Poles have the right to know whether it was a criminal incident, sabotage inspired from outside, or an event of a different character. Without reliable information, the vacuum will fill the rumors.
State resilience is at stake
Security of the defence manufacture requires constant cooperation between companies, police, ABW, SKW and fire department. It's not adequate to respond to the alarm. We request to check fences, monitoring, access control, procedures for workers and readiness to keep production continuity after the incident.
Poland is under expanding force from Russian hybrid activities, but all case must be assessed on the basis of evidence. Tough country doesn't yell at diversions without a fix. A tough state protects strategical betting, rapidly captures perpetrators and reasonably informs citizens. Fires in Lublin and Skarżysko-Kamienna show that this exam must not be postponed.
Source: Virtual Poland, Polish Radio Lublin, Associated Press
Source: WP News
