CIA says Russia is 'preparing drone attacks' on three major British holiday destinations
US intelligence services have claimed Russia could be preparing drone attacks on holiday hotspots popular with British tourists.
According to reports, the CIA has gathered information and shared details with several European countries pointing to a possible Russian operation using drones against targets.
These could be in Spain, France or Italy, according to Spanish media.
A report in newspaper El Mundo has traced the alert to CIA director John Ratcliffe's supposed visit to Moscow in August.
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An unnamed source close to the Lithuanian ministry of defence has suggested how drones could be launched from merchant ships disguised as ordinary commercial traffic in a series of potential attacks.
Ands authorities believe that Putin could use an explosive-laden Gerbera drone, launched from the sea.
This would cause a fire, damage exposed equipment or temporarily result in the closure of a port or airport, leading to significant disruption.
Spain, France and Italy have been listed as the countries that could become the targets of attacks.
The report has suggested that this is because they have campaigns or major elections next year.
Moscow has insisted that the supplying of weapons and intelligence to Ukraine makes Western countries participants in the war and therefore legitimate targets.
Other unnamed defence analysts also told El Mundo that they were aware of a CIA report circulating among European foreign ministries that described a 'possible attack.'
The Gerbera drone can travel up to 600km (372 miles) and flies at a speed of around 16km per hour.
A disguised merchant ship is said to be able to 'transport several of these drones' which can be launched easily.
Keir Giles, a British analyst specialising in Russian military strategy who worked for the UK Defence Academy, told the publication: "It's not necessarily the frontline countries that will be targeted. The target will be wherever Europe's weakest point is.
"Russia observes where any action will have the greatest impact due to a lack of resilience, civil defence, and political fragility."
Speaking previously to The Sun, a former British intelligence officer said it was ‘only a matter of time’ before drone technology began being used by bad actors and rogue states.
Another suggested that the UK was ‘behind the curve’ when it came to preventing such an attack.
Meanwhile, military intelligence expert Philip Ingram MBE told the publication: “The threat of attack is high and growing on a daily basis – it has been ever since drones became the centre of attention in Ukraine.
“There could be the dropping off of flammable petrol bombs from a drone into a crowded space – a concert or sports ground – a white powder which people don’t know what it is, which would cause panic, to dropping explosives or even a suicide drone to a crowded place or political space,” he continued.
“Suicide drones with explosives could even be flown in with FPV goggles, in the same way Ukraine or Russia are currently using – that’s very easy.”
LADbible has approached the CIA for comment.
Topics: World News, Travel, UK News, Russia
James Holt