A 55-year-old Greek citizen was arrested in the village of Koptero, Rhodope, for allegedly attempting to sabotage German warships in Hamburg. He belongs to the Muslim minority in Greece and had been under investigation since October 2025. The suspect worked at the Hamburg shipyard where the incident occurred.
Authorities seized six mobile phones, three USB drives, a SIM card, a hard drive, and 19 bank booklets from his home. The arrest followed a European arrest warrant issued by German authorities as part of an investigation into sabotage targeting military equipment. The case was coordinated by Eurojust, involving operations across Greece, Germany, and Romania. So far, investigators have not revealed the suspect’s motives or the extent of his involvement.
The Alleged Sabotage
According to prosecutors, the Greek suspect and a Romanian accomplice damaged ships meant for the German Navy. On the corvette Emden, they allegedly:
- Threw more than 20 kilograms of abrasive gravel into the engine
- Damaged freshwater supply pipes
- Removed fuel tank caps
- Disabled electronic safety switches
Authorities discovered the sabotage just before the ship’s first departure in mid-January 2025, with Kiel as the destination.
National Security Concerns
German prosecutors warned that these actions could have caused serious damage or delays, threatening Germany’s national security and the operational readiness of its armed forces. They are also investigating whether the suspects acted on orders from a third party. The General Prosecutor’s Office emphasized that “the principle of innocence applies until the completion of criminal proceedings.”
Eurojust Statement
Eurojust, the European agency for criminal justice cooperation, stated:
“The coordinated efforts of German, Greek, and Romanian authorities led to the arrest of two suspects involved in attempted sabotage of German defense assets. The arrests were carried out in Germany and Greece. Investigations continue, including searches of the suspects’ residences in Germany, Greece, and Romania, where evidence was seized.”
The authorities involved include:
Germany: Hamburg Public Prosecutor’s Office; Hamburg State Police
Greece: Rhodope Court of Appeals; Komotini Security and Crime Division
Romania: Romanian Police; Directorate for Organized Crime and Terrorism Investigation; Anti-Money Laundering and Organized Crime Units
The Corvette Emden and the Naval Program
The corvette Emden launched in May 2024 at Blohm + Voss shipyard. It conducted its first long trial voyage in mid-January 2025. The Emden is one of five new class 130 corvettes ordered in 2017 as part of a €2 billion naval program. These vessels form a key part of Germany’s modern naval strategy.
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