Reports: US Army raises alert level for bases in Europe
The U.S. Army has raised the threat level on several of its bases in Europe, according to media reports. This is the second highest warning level "Charlie," as reported by ABC News and CNN, citing unnamed sources. This alert level is called when there are indications of the possibility of an attack on Army personnel or facilities. According to the U.S. military's website, the highest alert level "Delta" is called when an attack has occurred or is imminent.
The Pentagon stated that "due to a combination of factors," which could impact the safety of U.S. soldiers and their families in Europe, the U.S. European Command (USEUCOM) in Germany initially did not confirm the raised alert level and only stated: "We remain vigilant." The U.S. State Department advises its citizens in Germany to exercise caution due to increased terror risk.
A spokesperson for the German Interior Ministry said on Monday in Berlin that the German government is "closely coordinating" with U.S. authorities regarding potential security risks. "For Germany, the threat level regarding the risk of Islamist terrorism in the Federal Republic of Germany remains consistently high," the spokesperson said. Germany is acting in this area "in line with the Americans."
Several European countries, including France, have raised the highest terror alert level following an attack in March at a concert hall in a Moscow suburb where more than 140 people were killed. The terrorist organization Islamic State (IS) claimed responsibility for the attack.
The German security authorities do not work with individual warning levels, as the Interior Ministry explained on Monday. "We work with continuous, so-called threat assessments that the security authorities conduct regularly," the spokesperson said.
- In response to the heightened alert level, the US Army has identified and established additional support points in Europe to strengthen their defense and respond swiftly in case of a terrorist attack.
- The daily briefings provided to US Army personnel in Europe now include details about the current alarm level and instructions on heightened safety measures, as reported in the soldiers' notes.
- European nations, including the US allies, are closely monitoring the situation and have increased their intelligence reports and surveillance activities to detect any signs of potential terrorist attacks, similar to the one in Moscow, to support the US Army in maintaining its security in Europe.
