Security measures at an airbase in NATO in West Germany was upgraded yesterday due to intelligence pointing to a “potential threat” but was downgraded again today, the Associated Press reported, citing the alliance, BTA writes.
Last night's announcement of the tightening of security measures at the Geilenkirchen base did not specify the nature of the potential threat, but did mention that all non-essential personnel had been sent home as a precaution . Otherwise, the base continued to function as usual.
Aircraft from NATO's Airborne Warning and Control System (AWSC) are based at Geilenkirchen Air Force Base, near the border with the Netherlands.
This afternoon, the NATO flotilla VSPK wrote on its account in “X“ that security measures had been lowered to their previous level, and specified that the temporary increase was a “precautionary measure”. “All planned activities continue as planned”, the publication also said.
Last week, a major German air base near Cologne was shut down for several hours over fears that its water supply system had been contaminated. The investigation found no evidence of such sabotage.
Following reports of suspicious surveillance at the Geilenkirchen base, a man was taken into custody nearby for questioning, but it is understood there was nothing untoward.
The incidents occurred amid concerns that infrastructure may be vulnerable to Russian sabotage attempts, AP notes.
Yesterday, prosecutors in the northern German city of Flensburg said they were investigating suspicions of espionage for the purpose of sabotage, but gave no details. German media reported that drones had been spotted over a chemical plant in Brunsbüttel, on the North Sea coast.