NATO raises alert level at German airport. News. NATO has increased security at its airport in Geilenkirchen, North Rhine-Westphalia, because of a possible threat. The alert level has been raised to “Charlie,” which is the third highest level. NATO’s alert levels start with ALFA, followed by BRAVO, then CHARLIE, and the highest is DELTA. As a safety measure, all non-essential workers have been sent home, according to a spokesperson for the air base. Police are on duty.
Alert Level Three Activated at German Airport
The spokesperson explained that the decision to raise the security level was based on intelligence suggesting a possible threat. “This is just a precaution to ensure our critical operations can continue,” he said, as reported by dpa. No additional details were shared about the specific reasons for the increase in security. In NATO terms, the “Charlie” alert level indicates that an incident has occurred, or there is strong evidence that a terrorist act against the alliance is likely.
Further information, including the number of officers involved, was not provided. A Cologne police spokesperson stated that no additional details were initially available early Friday morning. A dpa reporter on the scene observed police cars at the location, and electronic displays at the entrance showed the “Security Level C” alert.
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This isn’t the first incident at Bundeswehr bases
There have been several incidents at military bases in Germany recently. About a week ago, police and security services investigated a possible sabotage attempt at the waterworks of the Cologne-Wahn air force barracks, targeting the Bundeswehr.
Suspicious activity was also reported in Geilenkirchen. Security sources revealed that a person was detained for questioning near the airport, but the suspicions were not confirmed.