Bundeswehr: arrests on suspicion of gang theft

Created: 05/23/2022, 15:58

Several people in the Bundeswehr are currently being investigated for burglary and possible weapon theft.

© Stefan Sauer/dpa-Zentralbild/ZB/Symbolbild

Burglaries and possible theft of weapons: investigations are currently underway against several soldiers in the Bundeswehr.

Arrest warrants have also been issued.

Kiel/Berlin - After extensive investigations into burglaries and possible thefts of weapons from the Bundeswehr, a judge issued arrest warrants against two people arrested.

A total of ten suspects - including four on active duty in the Bundeswehr - are being investigated on suspicion of gang theft, the public prosecutor's office in Kiel announced on Monday.

Weapons were found during a search of a house in Itzehoe, Schleswig-Holstein, on Sunday.

The accused are accused of having repeatedly broken into Bundeswehr facilities since the beginning of this year, with varying involvement, in order to steal equipment for themselves or third parties or to have provided assistance, the statement said.

"After the suspects could be identified and the commission of a further offense was in the room, two suspects were arrested by the state police in Eckernförde in the night of May 22nd to 23rd, 2022 and, at the request of the Kiel public prosecutor's office, brought before the magistrate." , said the prosecutor.

Accordingly, he ordered pre-trial detention and issued search warrants for eight properties in Baden-Württemberg, Bremen, Lower Saxony, North Rhine-Westphalia and Schleswig-Holstein.

Several long and handguns seized in Itzehoe

Extensive evidence was secured, which is currently still being viewed and evaluated.

Several long and short guns, ammunition and explosive substances were found in Itzehoe, which is why the building there had to be evacuated and the explosive ordnance clearance service was called in.

"The seized weapons, ammunition and explosives are currently being examined by the Schleswig-Holstein State Criminal Police Office and their origin is being determined as far as possible," said the public prosecutor.

Among the accused is a member of the 31st Parachute Regiment from Seedorf in Lower Saxony.

According to information from the German Press Agency, a suspicion of other soldiers in the army and navy is being examined.

dpa