The store in Vilnius was attacked on May 9, 2024. Investigators have said that Bardadim and another person agreed during a secret meeting in Poland to set fire to and blow up shopping centers in Lithuania and Latvia for a reward of 10,000 euros ($11,500) plus a BMW car.
Prosecutors said that Bardadim, who was a minor at the time of the attack, acted “in the interests of the military structures and security services of the Russian Federation.” IKEA was allegedly targeted because the company withdrew from Russia and because of Sweden's aid to Ukraine.
The device was set off around 4 a.m. but the resulting blaze was extinguished quickly by employees and firefighters.
European security officials have warned that a widespread sabotage campaign blamed on Russia is growing more dangerous. The Associated Press has documented around 80 incidents linked to Russia since Moscow launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in early 2022.