The prosecutor’s office in Kempten is investigating five Bundeswehr soldiers suspected of committing thefts while participating in the evacuation mission at Kabul airport in Afghanistan.
A spokesperson for the authority responsible for soldiers on overseas deployment informed “Bild am Sonntag” that the matter concerns an “initial suspicion” against five members of the Bundeswehr contingent. The charge alleges that the accused illegally acquired goods from shops at Kabul airport during the evacuation operations.
The investigation is ongoing. The spokesperson for the public prosecutor’s office stated that it is “not possible to predict exactly” when or with what outcome the proceedings will conclude, noting the presumption of innocence inherent in all investigations.
According to “Bild am Sonntag”, which relies on internal Bundeswehr sources, the soldiers are believed to belong to Airborne Regiment 31 of Landing Brigade 1. The accusation is that these elite fighters conducted the thefts in the military section of the airport, specifically in shops run by Afghans. These shops allegedly sold items including military gear.
The armed soldiers are reported to have taken items such as T-shirts, patches (cloth insignia for uniforms), and knives, according to Bundeswehr sources. The investigation into the five soldiers began last year, following a parallel inquiry into Airborne Regiment 26. During internal Bundeswehr questioning, soldiers recounted the incidents that occurred in Kabul.
A spokesperson for the Ministry of Defence confirmed that “the military disciplinary prosecutor immediately informed the Kempten public prosecutor’s office upon becoming aware of a possible criminal offense and handed it over.” The public prosecutor’s office then involved the Federal Prosecutor General in Munich to examine the potential acts of looting.
The General Federal Prosecutor’s spokesperson stated that the details were submitted to the Federal Prosecutor’s Office for the review of potential violations of the International Criminal Code. However, the local investigations dismissed such a suspicion.
The Federal Ministry of Defence verified that video evidence was evaluated as part of the inquiry. Nevertheless, “no actions were identified that meet the criteria for looting.” The case has since been transferred back to Kempten.
Based on “Bild am Sonntag”‘s report, the potential crime of theft with weapons (Section 244 of the Criminal Code) could apply, as the soldiers were armed during the operation at the airport. The entire procedure is being closely monitored by the Ministry and the Army. Defence Minister Boris Pistorius (SPD) and the Chief of the German Army, Lieutenant General Christian Freuding, have both been informed about the ongoing proceedings.
