German army base on lockdown over sabotage suspicion
A German military base was sealed off for several hours Wednesday as authorities investigated suspected sabotage while a NATO airbase in the country faced an attempted trespassing incident, officials said.
The Bundeswehr base in Cologne-Wahn was locked down because of "a suspicion of an attempted intrusion and a suspicion of sabotage," defence ministry spokesman Colonel Arne Collatz told reporters in Berlin.
A hole was discovered in a fence near drinking water storage facilities, the military's territorial command said on X.
The perpetrators had not been found and the site's water was being checked as a precaution. The base re-opened later in the day, it added.
Der Spiegel magazine reported that soldiers and civilians on the Bundeswehr base had been advised not to drink the tap water over concerns that the water supply "may be contaminated".
The Cologne-Wahn base, located near Cologne-Bonn airport, houses several military and civilian facilities of the German armed forces as well as aircraft used by Chancellor Olaf Scholz and his ministers for government travel.
The base is also an important hub for military support for Ukraine. Ukrainian soldiers regularly fly home from there, via Poland, after receiving training in Germany, Der Spiegel added.
Meanwhile a NATO base in the western German town of Geilenkirchen faced an attempted trespassing incident late Tuesday, the military alliance said in a statement.
An individual attempted to enter the base but was stopped and sent away, a spokesman said, adding that a "routine" sweep of the site and people there was conducted afterwards. Police are investigating the incident.
Following the lockdown at the Cologne-Wahn base, the NATO site also increased its security level and conducted routine checks of its water supply but added it had no concerns with the safety of its supply.
Germany remains on high-alert following a spate of suspected sabotage incidents on infrastructure and high-profile targets across the country.
READ ALSO: What's behind the spike in arson attacks on Germany's railway network?
Greens politician calls for robust climate measures in wake of floods
Violent storms led to flooding and caused major damage in many parts of Germany on Tuesday and Wednesday. Several people were injured, others had to be evacuated, according to the authorities.
The storms were preceded by a heat wave, which peaked at 36.5C - the highest temperature recorded in Germany so far this year.
READ ALSO: Germany battered by storms and floods after hottest day of year
The Bruchsal water supply is at risk due to the flood damages. The city of Bruchsal called on citizens to significantly reduce water consumption.
Meanwhile, clean-up work continues in the district of Karlsruhe, which was hardest hit by the storm. "The firefighters will be busy all day pumping out basements, underpasses and underground garages," press spokesman Edgar Geißler told DPA.
The German weather service (DWD) continues to expect showers and thunderstorms on Thursday, especially in the west and northwest, but the situation is expected to ease in the course of the day.
The leader of the Greens in the Bundestag, Britta Haßelmann, said: "The persistent and extreme drought and heat are once again endangering belongings and, in the worst case, even human lives in Europe this year.
"When heavy rain meets parched soil it washes everything away," she said, adding: "It is slowly becoming clear to everyone that we need more protection against the consequences of the climate crisis."
Climate activists ground flights at Cologne-Bonn Airport
A police operation responding to a climate protest action by Last Generation has paused flight operations at Cologne/Bonn Airport as of 7:30 Thursday morning.
Unauthorised people had gained access to the airside area of the airport premises in Cologne/Bonn.
The Last Generation reported several disruptive actions at airports nationwide. According to the organisation, pairs of activists in orange high-visibility vests had entered the airports of Berlin-Brandenburg, Stuttgart, Nuremberg and Cologne/Bonn.
They "peacefully expressed their resistance by displaying banners reading 'Oil kills' and 'Sign the treaty'," the organisation reported. "The runways were not entered."
The treaty they referred to is a fossil fuel non-proliferation treaty that was spearheaded by the island nations of Vanuatu and Tuvalu, and has been endorsed by the World Health Organisation, the European Parliament and 77 Nobel Laureates and world leaders.
This follows former protests by the organisation at airports last weekend.
READ ALSO: Why are Last Generation activists in Germany getting prison sentences?
Prosecutors seek Ukrainian suspect in Nord Stream probe
German prosecutors have issued an arrest warrant for a Ukrainian man over the 2022 sabotage of the Nord Stream gas pipelines, German media reported Wednesday, with Polish prosecutors confirming they had received the warrant.
In the two years since the mysterious explosions hit the pipelines, speculation has been rife around who was responsible with Ukraine and Russia both vehemently denying any involvement.
But German media reported on Wednesday that a European arrest warrant had been requested for a Ukrainian man, a diving instructor whose last known address was in Poland.
The Polish prosecutor's office told AFP it had received the warrant for a man named as "Volodymyr Z." in June "in connection with proceedings against him in Germany".
However, the man left for Ukraine at the beginning of July before he could be detained, it said.
German authorities have reportedly identified two more Ukrainians, a man and a woman, who they believe acted as divers in the attacks -- believed to be a married couple who run a diving school in Ukraine.
However, no arrest warrants have yet been issued for them.
Grafenrheinfeld nuclear power plant to be blown up on Friday
The Grafenrheinfeld nuclear power plant in Lower Franconia, south of Schweinfurt, began operations at the end of 1981 and was in service until 2015. Now the cooling towers of the power plant are to be demolished by a large explosion.
The towers are 143 metres high, with a ground the diameter of 105 metres. In just a few seconds, the massive towers are scheduled to collapse on Friday evening.
Hundreds or thousands of onlookers are expected to watch from outside the barrier zone in the surrounding meadows and fields.
With reporting by Paul Krantz and DPA.
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