Polish prosecutors launch terrorism investigation following fire at drone maker’s factory

Poland Opens Terrorism Probe After Drone Factory Fire

Poinews.com – Polish prosecutors launch terrorism investigation following a deliberate arson at the WB Electronics plant in Skarżysko-Kamienna, central Poland. The blaze, which destroyed warehouse structures at one of the country’s most strategically significant defense manufacturers, was formally classified as a terrorist act on Monday. Authorities say an explosive device packed with flammable materials was used to ignite the fire, and they are now examining whether the act was carried out on behalf of a foreign intelligence service operating against the Republic of Poland.

Charges and on-site findings

In a formal statement, prosecutors outlined the legal basis for the inquiry: participation in the activities of a foreign intelligence service against the Republic of Poland, combined with the commission of a terrorist offense consisting of the deliberate setting of a fire on August 31, 2026, on the premises of WB Electronics S.A. The assessed material loss stands at no less than 15 million Polish zloty. Local fire-service officials described the blaze as relatively contained, with crews requiring just under two hours to bring it under control. Once the flames were out, police cordoned the area and a specialist fire-investigation expert was assigned to determine the precise ignition mechanism and trajectory.

Surveillance footage reportedly captured an unidentified individual in a balaclava scaling a perimeter fence to enter the compound. Investigators recovered a backpack and a sweatshirt near the affected structures; both items are now in forensic custody.

Why the WB Electronics site matters

WB Electronics is the largest privately held arms company in Poland. Its product line spans reconnaissance drones, strike platforms, and component systems for unmanned aerial vehicles destined for the Polish armed forces. Its reconnaissance and attack drones are already in operational use by the Ukrainian military, making the factory a node in a supply chain that stretches across two NATO-adjacent theaters of conflict.

In an interview with TVN24, Remigiusz Wilk, a senior figure at WB Group, underscored the company’s embedded role in national security infrastructure:

“We are, in a sense, part of Poland’s security system as a major entity that cooperates with thousands of enterprises across the country – from very small firms to giants such as the Polish Armaments Group, which is a subcontractor in some of our projects.”

Wilk went on to describe the scale of the company’s unmanned-systems portfolio globally, emphasizing that its offerings are integrated networks rather than isolated platforms:

“When it comes to unmanned systems worldwide, we are one of the largest manufacturers. These are not single platforms; they are systems linked together into one large ‘ecosystem.'”

On production continuity, Wilk stated that the facility would be prepared to restart output the moment authorities concluded their work, expressing confidence that the incident would not translate into delivery delays for the Polish armed forces.

A second fire within 24 hours

The Skarżysko-Kamienna blaze was not an isolated event. Within roughly a day, firefighters responded to a separate fire at a warehouse in Lublin belonging to a company that manufactures aircraft components. The temporal proximity of the two incidents has prompted questions about whether they share a common origin or operational logic. Karolina Galecka, a spokeswoman for the Polish Ministry of the Interior and Administration, confirmed that authorities would pursue every conceivable lead connecting the two events, without confirming or denying a direct link at this stage.

Wider European context

The timing of the probe lands amid a broader pattern of suspected sabotage activity across European defense-industrial sites. Western intelligence sources have described a series of operations targeting arms factories and firms that supply weapons to Ukraine, conducted in a manner calibrated to remain below the threshold that would activate NATO’s Article 5 collective-defense clause. Under that treaty provision, an armed attack on one member is treated as an attack on all, a trigger that none of the incidents to date has met.

FAQ

Where did the fire occur? At the WB Electronics manufacturing site in Skarżysko-Kamienna, a town in central Poland long associated with military-industrial production.

How much damage was assessed? Prosecutors stated the loss to warehouse structures stands at no less than 15 million Polish zloty.

Will drone deliveries to Poland or Ukraine be delayed? WB Group’s Remigiusz Wilk said the facility would resume production as soon as investigators cleared the site and expressed confidence that no delivery delays would result.

Is a second fire linked to the first? A separate warehouse fire broke out in Lublin within about 24 hours. Interior Ministry spokeswoman Karolina Galecka said all leads connecting the two events would be pursued, without confirming a direct link.