Russian military intelligence linked to Ikea fire incident, says Lithuania prosecutor

Russia's military intelligence was behind an arson attack on an Ikea store in Vilnius in May last year, and a suspect in the case is in custody in Poland along with others linked to similar crimes, a Lithuanian prosecutor said on Monday.

Western officials say incidents of sabotage have soared in Europe in recent years, with suspected Russian-paid operatives thought to be behind a range of crimes. Russia has regularly denied any involvement.

Lithuania's investigation had shown that the Ikea arson was linked to Russia through a long chain of intermediaries, said Arturas Urbelis, a prosecutor at the Lithuanian general prosecutors office.

"This is connected with the military intelligence, with the security services," Urbelis told reporters.

The attack is believed to have been carried out by two Ukrainian citizens, one of whom underaged, he said, adding that it was being treated as a case of terrorism.

The other suspect was arrested in Lithuania shortly after the crime, he said.