Two Russians and a Ukrainian tried to force their way into an arms factory in Albania, wounding two Albanian soldiers who were blocking their way, the Defense Ministry announced on Saturday night.
One of the suspects assaulted the guards while trying to take pictures of the Gramsh factory in the center of the country, where disused weapons are dismantled, according to the ministry statement.
“Trying to evade control, one of the Russian citizens, identified by the initials MZ, 24, used neuroparalytic spray on the two guards” who were guarding the place, according to the same source.
He was later arrested.
espionage suspect
The other two, a 33-year-old Russian identified as ST and a 25-year-old Ukrainian identified as FA, were also arrested near the plant. The two Albanian soldiers were taken to a hospital in Tirana after sustaining eye injuries, according to the statement.
Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama said the three were “suspected of espionage.”
Military police, as well as intelligence and anti-terrorism services, were dispatched to the scene to investigate the incident. Albania has been a member of NATO since 2009.
Source: BFM TV
