A shipment of German ammunition has been stolen from a delivery lorry in the eastern town of Burg, the country's defence ministry has confirmed.
According to Germany's DPA news agency, the officials did not disclose the exact quantity stolen. However, Der Spiegel has reported that the amount is approaching 20,000 rounds.
The theft is believed to have occurred after the driver for a civilian transport company, contracted by the military, left his truck unattended in an unguarded parking lot overnight on November 25.
Upon delivery to the nearby Clausewitz Barracks the following day, it became evident that the ammunition was missing. Both the army and police are currently conducting an investigation.
Reports suggest that the shipment included 10,000 rounds of live ammunition for pistols, about 9,900 rounds of blank ammunition for assault rifles, and smoke grenades.
Authorities have not confirmed if any arrests have been made or if suspects have been identified, raising significant security concerns about who might gain access to the missing supplies.
The defence ministry stated, We take the theft very seriously – this kind of ammunition must not fall into the wrong hands. A major aspect of the Bundeswehr's investigation will focus on why the driver did not select a secure location for parking, as indicated by Germany's public broadcaster MDR.
The broadcaster noted that there's a special hotline available for drivers in such situations, and the armed forces can provide escorts as needed.
In this instance, the driver opted for an unguarded lot and spent the night in a nearby hotel.
This incident is part of a growing concern about similar cases in the Saxony-Anhalt region. Police reported missing ammunition in Bernburg and Eisleben earlier this year, though no links between the cases have been established.
