Netherlands expels four Russian military intelligence agents (GRU) for attempting to hack into the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons’ (OPCW)
According to Dutch intelligence services, on April 10, 2018, four Russian military intelligence agency (GRU) agents entered the Netherlands under diplomatic passports with the intention of hacking into the offices of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), the organization investigating the attack on Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia in the UK, as well as a chemical weapons attack in Douma, Syria. On April 13, Dutch authorities apprehended the four men outside of the OPCW offices in a car that contained sophisticated electronic equipment used for hacking. Dutch intelligence services found sufficient evidence to prove that the GRU agents intended to compromise the building’s wireless network using an antenna hidden in their car. Because they entered the country with diplomatic passports, Dutch authorities expelled the four men rather than charge them with a crime. Russian state-sponsored media outlets such as Sputnik and RT claimed the event was staged.

About This Incident

Incident Metadata

Date: April 10-13, 2018
Country: Netherlands