German Cybersecurity Chief Investigated over Russia Ties

In this file photo taken on October 20, 2020 in Berlin, Arne Schoenbohm, President of the German Federal Office for Information Security (BSI) presents the Report on the State of IT Security in Germany. (AFP)
In this file photo taken on October 20, 2020 in Berlin, Arne Schoenbohm, President of the German Federal Office for Information Security (BSI) presents the Report on the State of IT Security in Germany. (AFP)
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German Cybersecurity Chief Investigated over Russia Ties

In this file photo taken on October 20, 2020 in Berlin, Arne Schoenbohm, President of the German Federal Office for Information Security (BSI) presents the Report on the State of IT Security in Germany. (AFP)
In this file photo taken on October 20, 2020 in Berlin, Arne Schoenbohm, President of the German Federal Office for Information Security (BSI) presents the Report on the State of IT Security in Germany. (AFP)

The head of Germany's national cybersecurity agency is under scrutiny over reports of ties to Russian intelligence, officials said Monday

Arne Schoenbohm, who heads the BSI agency, co-founded a cybersecurity group a decade ago that brings together experts from public institutions and the private sector. German media reported that one of its members is a company founded by a former Russian intelligence agent.

“The Interior Ministry takes the matters reported over the weekend seriously and is investigating them comprehensively,” the ministry said in a statement.

There is growing concern in Germany that the country's critical infrastructure might be targeted by Russia because of Berlin's support for Ukraine. On Saturday, an apparent act of sabotage forced German rail company Deutsche Bahn to halt passenger and cargo trains across the northwest of the country for nearly three hours.

After the nearly three-hour suspension, Deutsche Bahn said the problem — a “failure of the digital train radio system” — had been resolved but that some disruptions could still be expected. It later said the outage was caused by sabotage.

Transport Minister Volker Wissing said cables that are “essential for handling railway traffic safely” were deliberately severed at two separate locations. He said Germany’s federal police were investigating the incident.



Explosion Occurs at Turkish Oil Refinery During Drills, But No Casualties are Reported

Representation photo: AFP file photo of a fire at an Iranian oil refinery
Representation photo: AFP file photo of a fire at an Iranian oil refinery
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Explosion Occurs at Turkish Oil Refinery During Drills, But No Casualties are Reported

Representation photo: AFP file photo of a fire at an Iranian oil refinery
Representation photo: AFP file photo of a fire at an Iranian oil refinery

An explosion occurred at an oil refinery in northwestern Türkiye on Tuesday, an official said, adding the situation was “under control” and there were no reports of any casualties.
Mayor Tahir Buyukakin told private NTV television that the blast occurred at the Turkish Petroleum Refineries company, Tupras, in Izmit province during “routine drills.”
A fire was quickly brought under control by the privately owned company’s own emergency crews and no request for help was made, he said.
Video footage from the site showed smoke rising from the refinery, The Associated Press said.
It was not immediately clear what caused the explosion.