Nato base security raised over ‘threat of Russian drone attack’
The German military has received a tip off one of their bases is at risk of a Russian drone attack.
A foreign intelligence service said the Nato air base in Geilenkirchen near the border with the Netherlands may be sabotaged by Russian forces, NTV reports.
The security level at the base was raised on Thursday with non-essential staff being sent home.
A spokesperson for the base said the threat level had been raised to Charlie, the second-highest of four states of alert, which is defined as ‘an incident (that) has occurred or intelligence has been received indicating that some form of terrorist action against NATO organisations or personnel is highly likely’.
The airbase is home to the alliance’s AWACS (Airborne Warning and Control System) surveillance planes.
They also raised the security level two ago, after a military base in nearby Cologne was temporarily sealed off while authorities looked into whether someone had tampered with the water supply and contaminated it.
But the investigation found no contamination or evidence of sabotage.
The same day, the base in Geilenkirchen also reported an attempted trespassing incident that led to a full sweep of the premises and a person being briefly held for questioning.
However, nothing suspicious was discovered.
In June, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said the Western military alliance saw a pattern evolving and that recent attacks were a result of Russian intelligence becoming more active.
Russia, meanwhile, regularly accuses NATO of threatening its security.
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