(Berlin) NATO has raised the security level at its Geilenkirchen air base in western Germany due to a “potential threat,” the base said in a statement on its X account posted overnight Friday.
The decision was taken “on the basis of information from the intelligence services,” she said without giving further details.
All “non-essential” employees have been sent home as a precaution.
“The safety of our personnel is our top priority. Operations are continuing as planned,” the statement said.
The announcement comes just over a week after an incident at a military base in nearby Cologne was temporarily closed following possible sabotage of the water supply.
The test results ultimately showed that the tap water was not contaminated, the Bundeswehr, the German army, said.
At the same time, NATO announced that an “attempted intrusion” had taken place at its base in Geilenkirchen, without any link being established between the two cases.
After verification, NATO had lifted all concerns about the water supply on the base.
The organization has repeatedly warned of a campaign of hostile activities organized by Russia, including acts of sabotage and cyberattacks.
In April, two German-Russians were arrested in Germany on suspicion of planning acts of sabotage against American military installations in the country.