In recent weeks, several US military bases located in Germany and Italy have raised their security alert levels to the second-highest level, indicating a perceived risk of a terrorist attack. Among the bases affected by this increase in security alert level are the US European Command (EUCOM) army barracks in Stuttgart, Germany, the US army base and Ramstein military airport in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany, and the US Air Force Base in Spangdahlem, Germany.
To ensure safety, pilots at the Spangdahlem base have been instructed to only wear plain clothes when leaving the barracks. Additionally, facilities belonging to the US Army in Romania and Bulgaria, Aviano military airport in Italy, and other bases in Italy have also been raised to the Charlie alert level. The US European Command stated that they are closely monitoring various factors that affect the safety of the US military community abroad and are implementing additional measures to ensure personnel safety.
A US military official stationed in Europe commented that this is the highest security alert level they have seen in at least the past 10 years, indicating that the threat information received is considered reliable. The Charlie level is the second-highest in the US military’s 5-level security system. After the September 11, 2001 attacks, most US bases worldwide were placed on Bravo alert level.
There have been warnings of potential terrorist threats in Europe, with US Senate Intelligence Committee member Tom Cotton cautioning about organizations like ISIS-K targeting US and Western interests in the region. In April, German authorities arrested two suspects for planning to sabotage a US base in Bayreuth. The heightened security alert levels come amid concerns about increased foreign terrorist threats since conflicts like the Israel-Hamas war.