Police are investigating suspected sabotage after someone attempted to access a water treatment facility at Germany's NATO air base in Cologne, the third such incident in recent months. It has become.
A fence was torn down at the German Air Force base attached to Cologne Airport, and intruders allegedly attempted to break into the water treatment plant room and radio tower. Climbing the radio mast required access to a metal barrier, but apparently failed. Attempts to access the water treatment plant were also said to have been thwarted by the strength of the door.
National Security Agency investigators believe the attack was aimed at sabotaging NATO air bases. The forced entry attempt was discovered on January 2nd. say german SpiegelHowever, it has only just been released.
Attempts to break into water treatment facilities are notable not only because of the potential negative impact on the health of military personnel on base if the water supply suddenly increases, but also because of the alleged saboteurs. This appears to be the third time that the company has attempted to break into a water treatment facility. In August, a fence was cut during a drinking water test on the base, and “abnormal values'' were detected, and the fence was inspected again in November.
“A hostile force is trying to demonstrate its sabotage capabilities here,” the head of the German parliament's defense committee said at the time, adding that Russia was the obvious culprit. As reported in August:
The German military's Cologne Air Force Base is adjacent to the civilian Cologne Airport and employs approximately 5,500 military and civilian employees. “Due to abnormal readings in the drinking water system, the drinking water supply in the barracks has been cut off,” a spokesperson said, adding that a memo was being circulated ordering base personnel not to drink tap water under any circumstances.
The base was searched and no intruders were found, but on Wednesday morning a man-sized hole was discovered in the fence surrounding the base's drinking water plant. Counterintelligence police and political crime police are assisting in the investigation.
Europe is currently particularly sensitive to allegations of Russian sabotage, given the allegedly ongoing “hybrid war” situation between the Russian Federation and NATO. As reported, dozens of incidents have occurred in recent years that have been attributed to Russian interference.
