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Germany Arrests Two on Suspicion of Sabotaging Navy Ships in Hamburg

Prosecutors detail extensive tampering methods without offering any attribution.

Overview

  • The suspects, a 37-year-old Romanian and a 54-year-old Greek, were detained in Hamburg and northern Greece, and authorities searched residences in Germany, Romania and Greece.
  • Investigators say more than 20kg of steel pellets were poured into an engine block, freshwater lines were punctured, fuel tank caps were removed and fuses in onboard electronics were disabled.
  • The tampering was discovered during pre-departure checks on the corvette Emden before its inaugural trip to Kiel, and prosecutors said the actions could have caused significant damage.
  • Greek police reported the Greek suspect was arrested on a European warrant and that seized items included multiple phones, storage devices and evidence of 19 bank accounts.
  • Greek court documents state the men were assigned painting work on the corvette Koeln in June 2025 and allegedly shut a control panel, cutting power and risking a fire, while the investigation continues.