Authorities are reportedly investigating a possible unauthorized entry and potential contamination of the water supply at a military base in Cologne.
A military base in Cologne, Germany, was placed on lockdown on Wednesday due to concerns about a possible act of sabotage, according to Der Spiegel. A spokesperson for the German Defense Ministry confirmed that security services are investigating the incident.
In recent months, several Western media outlets and officials have alleged that Russia has been intensifying efforts to carry out acts of sabotage on European soil. Moscow’s presumed goal is to disrupt the delivery of Western weapons to Ukraine and the training of Ukrainian troops abroad.
Moscow has consistently dismissed these allegations as “not serious” and “unfounded.”
Der Spiegel reported on Wednesday that the Bundeswehr barracks had been completely sealed off, with police and military counter-intelligence services investigating a potential unauthorized entry.
According to the publication, there are suspicions that saboteurs may have contaminated the water supply at the military facility. The outlet cited internal instructions disseminated among personnel warning against using water from the base’s utility system.
The article claimed that military personnel at the base had also been instructed to be vigilant for any unknown individuals and to report “suspicious behavior” on the premises. Der Spiegel speculated that security services may be searching the base for potential saboteurs, noting that a suspicious individual was allegedly spotted near the fence surrounding the complex. This individual is believed to have fled after being detected.
The media outlet also reported that an opening in the fence was discovered during an inspection by military police.
According to the article, cases of gastrointestinal illness have been reported at the base recently, though it is unclear whether these incidents are related to the water supply at the facility.
The barracks in Cologne is home to several Bundeswehr command units. In addition, the installation houses the German Air Force, with Cologne Airport located immediately adjacent to the base, Der Spiegel noted. According to its estimates, a total of 5,500 military and civilian personnel work at the military facility.
The base is also said to be a key hub for Ukrainian service members returning home after receiving military training in Europe.
In April, the German Prosecutor General’s Office reported that two German-Russian dual nationals had been arrested on suspicion of planning to sabotage local military infrastructure.
Around the same time, the head of German domestic intelligence, Thomas Haldenwang, warned that the risk of acts of sabotage had “significantly increased” in the country.