Suspected acts of sabotage targeting water supplies at two military bases in Germany, including a NATO airbase, have sparked significant security concerns. German media reports indicate that the water supply at these bases, which play critical roles in NATO operations, may have been deliberately contaminated.
On Wednesday, authorities sealed off the military bases as they launched investigations into the possible sabotage. The German base in Cologne, which is situated near the city’s airport and operates its own waterworks, was reportedly compromised. An internal memo advised soldiers and civilian personnel to avoid using tap water on the base under any circumstances, according to Spiegel.
Additionally, the Süddeutsche Zeitung reported that a NATO base in Geilenkirchen, North Rhine-Westphalia, has also been secured due to similar concerns. This base, home to reconnaissance aircraft vital to NATO’s surveillance operations, is equipped with its own water pumping station. The presence of a hole in the fence surrounding the Cologne-Wahn base suggests a possible intrusion, raising further alarms about the security breach.
The incidents are under investigation by German police and military counterintelligence services. The bases affected are crucial to NATO and German military operations, with the Cologne-Wahn base alone hosting approximately 4,300 soldiers and 1,200 civilian personnel.
While no group or nation has claimed responsibility for the potential sabotage, the incidents come amid heightened concerns in Germany over espionage and cyber threats from foreign adversaries, including Russia. German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser previously warned in June about the growing threats posed by foreign actors, highlighting the potential risks to national security.
This latest security breach follows a pattern of suspected sabotage aimed at disrupting military operations, including an arson attack on a Berlin factory belonging to arms manufacturer Diehl. The attack was reportedly carried out by Russian saboteurs seeking to impede arms shipments to Ukraine.
The Cologne-Wahn airbase holds particular strategic importance as a transport hub for Ukrainian soldiers receiving training in Germany, underscoring the potential implications of the suspected sabotage on broader NATO and European security efforts.
As investigations continue, the incidents highlight the ongoing challenges NATO and its member states face in securing critical military infrastructure against potential threats from state and non-state actors alike.
