Germany arrests suspect planning to bomb US military base

German authorities arrested two suspects in the city of Bayreuth on charges of scouting multiple locations, including US bases, for sabotage attacks.

The German Federal Prosecutor's Office announced today that authorities have arrested two men of German-Russian nationality on suspicion of "working for foreign intelligence" and preparing to carry out bombings and sabotage to hinder military aid efforts to Ukraine.

The two men were named as Dieter S. and Alexander J., and police searched the suspects' homes and workplaces in the southeastern German city of Bayreuth.

Abrams tanks were delivered by the US to Grafenwoehr base, Germany, to train Ukrainian soldiers in May 2023. Photo: US Army — Abrams tanks were delivered by the US to Grafenwoehr base, Germany, to train Ukrainian soldiers in May 2023. Photo: *US Army*

Germany's federal prosecutor described the case as a "particularly serious espionage case," saying Dieter S. had been exchanging information with a person linked to Russian intelligence since October 2023 and was probing potential targets, including several US military installations in Germany.

Spiegel said one of the targets was the Grafenwoehr training ground in southern Bavaria, where the US military trained Ukrainian soldiers to operate M1 Abrams tanks.

"They discussed acts of sabotage aimed at hindering German aid to Ukraine. The suspect expressed his readiness to carry out explosive and arson attacks against military infrastructure and industrial plants in Germany," prosecutors said.

Alexander J. is suspected of supporting Dieter S. since March 2024, but the specific extent is unknown.

Russian and US officials have not commented on the information.

Germany has been rocked by a series of incidents involving Russian intelligence, which have exposed Moscow's ability to infiltrate and collect Berlin's most sensitive information.

Last month, Russian media released a nearly 40-minute recording of a top-secret meeting between top German air force commanders, revealing military secrets from Berlin and its allies. A former German arms development officer and a senior German intelligence official were also arrested in 2022-2023 on charges of passing information to Russia.

Vu Anh (According to AFP )

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