Poland opens foreign espionage inquiry after arson damages drone plant in Skarżysko-Kamiennej

Nighttime blaze at drone facility

Shortly after midnight on 31 August 2026, a fire broke out at a production and warehouse facility operated by WB Electronics on Obuwnicza Street in Skarżysko-Kamiennej. The plant was closed at the time, resulting in no reported casualties or injuries among company personnel. Five fire brigade crews responded to the scene, working for approximately two hours to extinguish the flames, disconnect the facility electrical grid, and secure the perimeter. An intrusion alarm was triggered in the warehouse section, prompting an alert from the contracted private security agency to emergency dispatchers. Surveillance footage from the site captured an unidentified individual in a balaclava breaching the perimeter fence, breaking a hall window, and throwing a backpack containing an incendiary device inside. Initial official assessments placed the property losses at a minimum of 15 million zlotys.

Counter-terrorism and espionage investigation

Procedural activities began under the District Prosecutor's Office in Skarżysko-Kamiennej and the Regional Prosecutor's Office in Kielce before escalating to the Małopolska Branch of the Department for Organized Crime and Corruption of the National Public Prosecutor's Office in Kraków. Prosecutors formally classified the inquiry under Article 130 and Article 163 of the Polish Penal Code, addressing foreign intelligence collaboration and terrorist offenses that carry potential penalties up to life imprisonment.

The investigation is being conducted into participation in the activities of a foreign intelligence service against the Republic of Poland and committing a crime of a terrorist nature, consisting of deliberately causing a fire by planting a device containing flammable materials.

The investigation is being conducted jointly with the Internal Security Agency (ABW) and the Kielce Voivodeship Police. To process physical evidence and pursue investigative leads, regional police established a dedicated task force commanded by Inspector Jacek Cholewa, the deputy provincial police chief overseeing the criminal division.

Pattern of regional defense incidents

The incident in Skarżysko-Kamiennej follows several related security disruptions across Central Europe. On 30 August, a fire destroyed a warehouse in Lublin belonging to JFG Composites, an enterprise that manufactures components for the aerospace and defense sectors. During the previous week, Slovak police disrupted an arson plot directed at an eastern Slovakian drone assembly facility operated by Ukrainian firm Skyeton. In recent weeks, authorities also recovered drones carrying explosive payloads at Leipzig airport in Germany. Member of Parliament Przemysław Czarnek stated on TV Republika that domestic services had additionally prevented a sabotage attempt at a facility in Chorzów.

Defense manufacturing and official response

WB Electronics is the largest private defense manufacturer in Poland, producing composite airframe structures and electronic control systems for unmanned aerial vehicles utilized by both Polish and Ukrainian armed forces. Government and security officials have emphasized operational caution while technical examinations continue. Spokesperson for the Minister-Coordinator of Special Services Jacek Dobrzyński confirmed that no formal charges have been filed against any suspect as ABW officers analyze recovered materials. Interior Ministry spokeswoman Karolina Gałecka stated that premature speculation about causes should be avoided while agencies complete on-site procedures. Security analyst and reserve officer Jarosław Stelmach advised the public on TOK FM to await confirmed data from official state sources rather than relying on unverified claims circulating online.