According to U.S. officials, American military bases, including Stuttgart in Germany where the U.S. European Command (USEUCOM) is based, had their alert level raised to the category "Charlie, the second highest level," on Sunday.
The army explained that "Charlie" is deployed “when an incident occurs or information comes in indicating the likelihood of terrorist activity or an attack on military personnel or facilities.”
CNN reported that the threat level has not been seen “for at least 10 years.” This typically indicates that the military has received news of an “active and credible threat.”
USEUCOM spokesman Dan Day declined to comment on specific levels of protection. He told CNN that they are “constantly assessing a variety of factors" on security and safety, and additional steps will be taken if necessary.
There have been suggestions that European authorities have warned of a potential terrorist threat, particularly ahead of this summer’s Olympics in Paris in July and the European Championships, currently taking place in Germany.
The Pentagon has now acknowledged that USEUCOM is redoubling efforts to increase vigilance, while the State Department is advising U.S. citizens in Germany to exercise greater caution.
