This information was shared by two officials who wished to remain anonymous due to the sensitive nature of the situation.
As reported by The Independent, the bases heightened their alert level to Force Protection Condition "Charlie" on Sunday. This level of alert is typically activated when an "incident occurs or intelligence is received indicating some form of terrorist action or targeting against personnel or facilities is likely," as per the U.S. Army's guidelines.
Among the bases with the escalated alert level is the U.S. Army Garrison in Stuttgart, Germany, which also houses the U.S. European Command (USEUCOM). Other bases in Germany, including the U.S. military's Rheinland-Pfalz and Ramstein Air Base, have also received similar alerts. Military bases in Italy, Romania, and Bulgaria have been put on the same heightened alert, according to Stars and Stripes, an independent military publication.
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A U.S. official stationed in Europe, speaking to CNN, confirmed that this move indicates the military has received an "active-reliable threat." The official added that such a threat level has not been seen "in at least 10 years."
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Commander Dan Day, spokesperson for the U.S. European Command, stated that the command is "constantly assessing a variety of factors that play into the safety of the U.S. military community abroad." He further added, "For operational security reasons we will not get into specific measures, but we remain vigilant. As always, USEUCOM advises personnel in the European theater to remain vigilant and stay alert at all times." USEUCOM, however, declined to provide further details on the intelligence that led to the heightened terror threat level.
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This development follows warnings from European authorities about a potential terror threat ahead of the Olympic Games in Paris, which commence on July 26. In March, France escalated its national security alert system to the highest level, as per the U.S. embassy in France. The embassy cautioned that "attacks may happen with little or no warning, targeting tourist locations, major sporting and cultural events, and other public areas that attract large numbers of civilians."
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In a related incident in May, an 18-year-old man from the Russian republic of Chechnya expressed his desire to "die and become a martyr" at the upcoming Olympic Games. He was subsequently charged with plotting to target spectators attending soccer games at the event.
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In preparation for the Euro 2024 soccer tournament, the German government has deployed an additional 580 international police officers to assist its domestic forces with security. Germany's Interior Minister,
Nancy Faeser, stated prior to the tournament, "We are preparing ourselves for all conceivable dangers: from Islamist terror to violent criminals and hooligans." This proactive approach underscores the seriousness with which these threats are being taken.
