HAMBURG, Germany — Two shipyard workers have been arrested on suspicion of sabotaging several German warships in Hamburg harbor, authorities said, in a case that investigators warn could have caused significant damage had it gone unnoticed.
The men — a 37-year-old Romanian and a 54-year-old Greek — allegedly tampered with multiple vessels by pouring more than 20 kilograms of steel pellets into an engine block, puncturing freshwater lines, removing fuel tank caps and disabling fuses in onboard electronics, according to the prosecutor general’s office.
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The suspected sabotage was discovered during pre-departure checks as one of the ships, the corvette “Emden,” was preparing for its inaugural trip to the Baltic port of Kiel. Investigators said the actions, if left undetected, could have led to substantial harm to the vessel and its systems. The probe remains ongoing.
Greek police officials and security sources said the 54-year-old suspect was arrested in the early morning at his home in northern Greece after a European arrest warrant was issued on behalf of German authorities. Among the items seized were six mobile phones, three USB sticks, a SIM card and a hard drive, as well as documentation indicating 19 bank accounts, officials said.
Greek court documents reviewed by officials state the two men had been assigned painting work on the corvette “Koeln” in June 2025. During that job, the men allegedly shut down a control panel manually, cutting power to the vessel and creating a fire risk.
Germany’s Defense Ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the arrests and the state of the ships. A spokesperson for the Hamburg prosecutor’s office declined to say whether authorities suspect a foreign government’s involvement or any broader network behind the alleged sabotage.
European political leaders and military officials have, in recent years, accused Russia of engaging in sabotage, espionage and other forms of hybrid warfare since Moscow launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. The Kremlin has repeatedly denied those claims, calling them unsubstantiated.
German investigators have not publicly identified a motive in the Hamburg case and have not detailed any specific charges. Prosecutors emphasized that the alleged activities were detected before departure and that further forensic and technical assessments are underway to determine the full extent of the tampering across the affected vessels.
The arrests come amid heightened vigilance at European ports, shipyards and critical infrastructure sites, where authorities have warned of increased susceptibility to covert disruption. In this case, officials credit routine pre-sailing inspections with preventing potentially costly or dangerous damage to the “Emden” and any other vessels targeted.
Further information, including potential court appearances or extradition timelines, was not immediately available. The prosecutor general’s office said more details would be released as the investigation progresses.
By Abdiwahab Ahmed
Axadle Times international–Monitoring.
