NATO airbase in Germany increases security level due to ‘potential threat’

A NATO air base in western Germany said Thursday it had raised its security level due to a “potential threat.”

“We have increased the security level at NATO Air Base Geilenkirchen based on intelligence information indicating a potential threat,” the base said in a message posted on the social media platform X.

🚨We have increased the security level at NATO Air Base Geilenkirchen based on intelligence information indicating a potential threat. All non-mission-critical personnel have been sent home as a precautionary measure. The safety of our personnel is our top priority. Operations continue as planned.

— NATO AWACS (@NATOAWACS) August 22, 2024

The announcement comes just over a week after a German military base was sealed off for several hours as authorities investigated suspected sabotage.

The Cologne-Wahn base was closed after a hole was discovered in a fence near drinking water storage facilities.

But test results ultimately showed that the tap water was not contaminated, according to the German military.

At the same time, NATO announced an attempted intrusion into the Geilenkirchen base.

An individual attempted to enter the base but was arrested and sent back, a spokesperson said.

No link has been established between the two incidents.

Germany, a key ally of kyiv, is on high alert over sabotage and attacks on the country’s military installations following Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

In April, investigators arrested two German-Russian men suspected of spying for Russia and planning attacks in Germany – including against U.S. military installations – to undermine military support for Ukraine.