German arms giant boss says no ‘chickening out’ amid alleged Russian threats

The head of German arms giant Rheinmetall is refusing to be intimidated despite round-the-clock security due to a litany of threats to his safety.On Sunday, Armin Papperger said “chickening out” was not an option in his field.“These jobs must be done and anyone that can’t take the pressure doesn’t belong in this job,” Papperger said.The 63-year-old is under police protection due to alleged Russian murder plots and has bodyguards at his side at all times, even in Rheinmetall’s Dusseldorf headquarters. His level of protection is similar to that of German Chancellor Friedrich Merz.“It is well known that my garden shed was set on fire and that there were demonstrations outside my house,” Papperger said. “If that’s a threat, then yes – perhaps I ought to feel threatened.”The German state is protecting him as far as is humanly possible, the defence industry executive said. “But in a different job, I would certainly face a lower level of threat.”