U.S. military bases and personnel across Europe are on heightened alert, after new intelligence warned of a possible terror attack targeting either facilities or personnel.
A U.S. defense official confirmed that military installations across U.S. European Command (EUCOM) have been elevated to Force Protection Condition “Charlie,” which means an attack of some sort is likely.
The official did not elaborate on the contents of the intelligence that sparked the change, although counterterrorism officials from multiple countries have warned of an increased threat, including some surrounding the upcoming Summer Olympics in Paris.
The U.S. defense official said that the military is “taking extra steps to ensure [U.S. troops] remain vigilant during both business and pleasure activities.”
A second U.S. official, speaking on the condition of anonymity to discuss intelligence matters, emphasized it was the overall threat picture and not one single piece of intelligence, that led to the increased force protection posture.
“There is no specific or imminent threat to U.S. forces in Europe,” the official told. “This was a step taken out of an abundance of caution.”
A statement Monday from EUCOM likewise indicated the increased security measures are the result of a combination of factors.
“Our increase in vigilance is not related to any one single threat, but out of concern of a combination of factors such as ongoing and upcoming large public forums including the Euro Cup and the Olympics, along with an increasing the threat of attacks by potential bad actors against various non-military targets in Europe,” the statement read.
EUCOM “advises personnel in the European theater to remain vigilant and stay alert at all times, including reporting suspicious activity, monitoring Department of State travel advisories, and implementing prudent personal risk mitigation measures,” it added.
A report issued last month by the by the cybersecurity firm Recorded Future warned that despite a high risk of cyberattacks, the greatest threat to the Paris Olympics remains the possibility for terror attacks.
