Two arrested over attempted sabotage of German naval vessels
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- German authorities foil sabotage plot targeting navy ships in Hamburg.
- Two men arrested in coordinated European operation; investigation ongoing into potential wider attacks.
German prosecutors announced Tuesday the arrest of two men suspected of attempting to sabotage German navy vessels in Hamburg last year. The suspects, a 37-year-old Romanian and a 54-year-old Greek, are accused of carrying out highly dangerous acts that could have caused significant damage to naval ships.
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Details of the planned sabotage
Investigations revealed the suspects, who were employed at Hamburg port, used precise methods to disrupt naval operations, including:
- Placing over 20 kilograms of gravel inside a ship’s engine.
- Piercing water supply lines.
- Removing fuel tank covers.
- Disabling electronic safety valves.
- Authorities warned that had the sabotage gone undetected, it could have seriously damaged ships or at least delayed their operations, posing a national security threat.
European coordination
The arrests were part of a coordinated operation led by the EU’s Europol unit “Eurojust”, including searches of the suspects’ residences in Hamburg, Romania, and Greece. Prosecutors said the investigation is ongoing to identify other parties potentially behind the attacks and to determine whether additional ships were targeted.
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Security context
The case comes amid heightened security measures by Germany and NATO allies, amid concerns about possible Russian espionage or sabotage operations. Last week, the German parliament passed new legislation aimed at protecting critical infrastructure against sabotage.
