Investigation into Sabotage Prompts Closure of German Army Barracks
A military barracks in Germany has been sealed off as investigators examine reports of unauthorized entry and possible sabotage of the water supply.
Germany’s defense ministry said the Wahn barracks outside the western city of Cologne had been locked down on Aug. 14.
Speaking outside the barracks, military spokesman Ulrich Fonrobert said it had been closed off after an incident on the night of Aug. 13.
Fonrobert said the Bundeswehr, the German armed forces, was taking the matter “very seriously,” but he would not give any more detail about the probe. He said the barracks was due to reopen later on Aug. 14.
The Bundeswehr employs 260,000 men and women and has recently been involved in training Ukrainian soldiers fighting on the front line against Russia.
Wahn barracks serves the military part of Cologne/Bonn Airport, where a fleet of aircraft used to ferry around Chancellor Olaf Scholz and his ministers is based.
Military spokesperson Ulrich Fonrobert said a hole had been found in a fence and officials couldn’t rule out contamination.
It said the drinking water may have been contaminated after someone forced entry into the base.
The defense ministry in Berlin and the military intelligence agency MAD were not available for comment.
Suspicion of Russia
President Vladimir Putin is at loggerheads with Germany and the rest of NATO for their support of Ukraine’s armed forces.
In February 2022 Putin’s troops invaded Ukraine. Despite occupying territory in the southeast of the country, Russia has suffered heavy casualties and has been unable to make a breakthrough.
In the past few days, dozens of Russian troops have been killed or captured by Ukrainian forces who carried out a surprise incursion across the border near the city of Kursk.
Germany has provided 58 Leopard main battle tanks, 120 Marder fighting vehicles, 66 armored personnel carriers, three Patriot air defense systems, hundreds of drones, and hundreds of thousands of rounds of ammunition.
In September 2022, explosive devices were detonated on the Nord Stream pipeline, which carried Russian gas to Germany.
Russia denied that it was involved and accused the United Kingdom of destroying the pipeline.
Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.