German authorities are investigating possible sabotage at a military base after an apparent attempt was made to contaminate drinking water at the Bundeswehr base in Cologne-Wahn. On Wednesday, Aug. 14, a guard at the base discovered a hole in the fence near the water processing plant, prompting a search of the premises.
No trespassers were found. As a precaution, soldiers and civilians at the base were instructed not to drink the tap water, and the water supply was switched to canisters while tests are conducted.
The base, which houses 4,300 soldiers and 1,200 civilian employees, is also home to the fleet of military aircraft used by German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and his ministers. The base reopened later Wednesday afternoon.
In response to the suspected sabotage, security levels were raised at a nearby NATO base, which is home to surveillance planes. However, the water there was found to be safe, and the base remained open.
While the investigation is ongoing, no direct evidence has surfaced linking the suspected sabotage to any specific group. NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg recently warned of increased Russian intelligence activities, including acts of sabotage and cyberattacks, targeting member states.
Several countries, including Poland, Germany, the United Kingdom, and the Czech Republic, have reported similar incidents in recent months.