A shipment of German ammunition has been stolen from a delivery lorry in the eastern town of Burg, the country's defence ministry has reported.
While the officials did not specify the exact amount of ammunition taken, sources from the weekly news magazine Der Spiegel noted that nearly 20,000 rounds were involved.
According to the reports, the theft occurred when the driver, employed by a civilian transport company working for the military, left the truck parked overnight in an unsecured area on November 25. When the shipment arrived at Clausewitz Barracks the following day, it was discovered that a significant portion of the ammunition was missing.
Der Spiegel highlights that the shipment included 10,000 rounds of live pistol ammunition, 9,900 rounds of blank bullets for assault rifles, and smoke grenades.
No arrests have been made as authorities continue to investigate the incident, which has heightened security concerns regarding the potential misuse of the stolen materials. The defence ministry stated, We take the theft very seriously - this kind of ammunition must not fall into the wrong hands.
The investigation will also examine why the truck was left unattended in an unguarded location, especially since there are protocols in place allowing for secure stops and potential military escorts if needed. The driver reportedly opted to spend the night at a nearby hotel instead of securing the vehicle properly.
This is not an isolated incident; earlier in August, local authorities reported 90 rounds of ammunition missing in Bernburg, and 180 rounds previously in Eisleben, although no direct connections have been established between these cases.
