Germany investigates possible sabotage of water supply at military base

BERLIN, Aug 14 (Reuters) – A German military base next to Cologne airport was temporarily sealed off on Wednesday and soldiers there were told not to drink tap water as authorities investigated possible sabotage, the military’s Territorial Command said.

A guard detected a hole in the fence near the water processing plant of the barracks early on Wednesday morning, prompting a search of the premises which did not turn up any trespassers, the Territorial Command said in a press release.

“The water supply was interrupted as the drinking-water system showed unusual values,” it said.

The base, which has 4,300 soldiers and 1,200 civilian employees, was reopened in the afternoon. It is home to the fleet of military aircraft used for travel by Chancellor Olaf Scholz and his ministers.