India, Aug. 21 -- Germany's interior minister confirmed on Friday that a concealed stash of handguns and ammunition, unearthed in a forest near Berlin roughly a year ago, was assessed by security services to have been intended for use in politically motivated attacks, as prosecutors widen an investigation into suspected Russian intelligence involvement and pursue the extradition of a suspect held in Romania.

Speaking to reporters in Berlin, Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt said federal prosecutors had opened a formal inquiry after the discovery, which was first reported jointly by public broadcasters NDR and WDR alongside the daily newspaper Suddeutsche Zeitung.

"This case demonstrates that we are operating under a high threat level...