On Wednesday, April 16, the Vilnius Regional Court began proceedings in a terrorism case in which an 18-year-old Ukrainian is accused of carrying out a terrorist act by planting an explosive device and starting a fire at an IKEA store in the Lithuanian capital.
The defendant, who is also charged with the illegal possession of explosives, was brought to the closed hearing under escort by the Public Security Service. The Lithuanian Prosecutor’s Office classified the March 2024 incident as a terrorist act. The case, submitted to court in mid-March, includes charges under three articles of the Criminal Code: committing a terrorist act, actions with terrorist intent, and illegal possession of explosives.
According to case materials, on May 8, 2024, a time-delayed explosive device was planted inside the IKEA store in Vilnius. The explosion caused a fire and significant material damage. Authorities claim that the attack was carried out by a terrorist group coordinating through encrypted social media messages. The group is suspected of having ties to Russian intelligence services.
Prosecutors believe the act was organized and commissioned by individuals connected to Russian security agencies.
Two Ukrainian nationals under the age of 20 are suspected of carrying out the attack. One of them, who was 17 at the time, is currently in custody in Lithuania. The second suspect has been detained in Poland.
According to officials, the investigation into those who orchestrated the attack is ongoing, and several individuals have been placed on international wanted lists.
The accused was arrested on May 13, 2024, near Panevėžys, Lithuania. Authorities say he was intercepted while traveling by bus toward Riga, Latvia, allegedly planning a second attack using materials previously stored in Lithuania.
The court also received a civil lawsuit from IKEA seeking €485,000 in damages.
