German Navy ships targeted by sabotage attempt, two port workers arrested

February 4, 2026, by Fatima Bahtić

Two port workers have been arrested over the attempted sabotage of German naval vessels docked at the Port of Hamburg, the EU’s Eurojust crime agency revealed.

As disclosed, the arrests of two individuals were carried out thanks to coordinated efforts by German, Greek, and Romanian authorities under Eurojust.

The Romanian and Greek suspects were apprehended on February 3, 2026. One of the workers was arrested in Greece and another in Germany. At the same time, the suspects’ residences in Germany, Greece, and Romania were searched, and evidence was seized.

The operation involved several national authorities: in Germany, the Prosecutor General’s Office Hamburg and the State Police Agency Hamburg; in Greece, the PPO of Appeals of Thrace, the Investigative Judge of Komotini, and the Criminal Investigation and Prosecution Police Department of Komotini; and in Romania, the Prosecution Office of the High Court of Cassation and Justice, the Directorate for Investigation of Organized Crime and Terrorism, the Anti-Terrorism Financing and Anti-Money Laundering Department – Constanța Organized Crime Brigade, and the Romanian Police.

The suspects, employed at the Port of Hamburg, are alleged to have carried out a series of dangerous acts, including dumping more than 20 kilograms of abrasive gravel into ship engine blocks, puncturing fresh water supply lines, removing fuel tank caps, and deactivating electronic safety switches.

Officials warned that, had the actions gone undetected, they could have caused significant damage to the vessels and delayed their operations, potentially jeopardizing the German Navy’s readiness.

Investigations into attempted sabotage are ongoing, it was concluded.