Geilenkirchen, Germany, 23 August 2024 (dpa/MIA) — NATO has raised the security level at its air base in the western German town of Geilenkirchen to the second-highest level, Charlie, following intelligence reports of a potential threat.

As a precautionary measure, all employees who are not needed for the operation have been sent home, a spokesman for the air base said late on Thursday.

He said the decision was based on intelligence information indicating a potential threat.

In NATO terms, security level Charlie means that there has been an incident or that there is evidence suggesting a high likelihood of terrorist action against the alliance.

The spokesman said that there was no cause for concern and it was purely a precautionary measure to ensure the continuity of critical operations.

When asked, he did not provide further details about the circumstances leading to the increase in the security level.

The police confirmed their presence, but did not provide any further details, including the number of officers. A dpa reporter observed police cars on the premises. The security level "C" was displayed on electronic displays and boards at the entrance to the premises.

NATO has stationed the Airborne Early Warning and Control System (AWACS) in Geilenkirchen near the city of Aachen.

Equipped with a mushroom-shaped radar structure, the AWACS can locate and identify other aircraft at a distance of more than 400 kilometres and convey this information to all others in the airspace with similar equipment, meaning they can act as airborne combat control centres.