On Sunday, the United States military bases in Europe were put on the second-highest terror alert level. Force Protection Condition Charlie was imposed when the threat level increased. This occurs “when intelligence or an incident indicate that terrorist actions or targets against personnel or installations are likely”. The alert is for most of Western Europe, Eastern Europe, and Southern Europe.

The Army garrison at the U.S. European Command Headquarters in Stuttgart issued an alert to the community on Sunday that the threat level for force protection was raised to “Charlie” and will remain so until further notice.

Other bases in Germany were also sent similar directives, including Rheinland Pfalz Air Base and Ramstein Air Base. Together, these bases form the largest U.S. Military community abroad. The Rheinland Pfalz Garrison Alert includes Baumholder, as well as outlying bases in Romania and Bulgaria.

Aviano Airbase in Italy has also raised its security level to Charlie and introduced new measures.

The cause of the threat warning and the force protection measures implemented were not disclosed. Such alerts usually indicate increased scrutiny of vehicles entering installations, and in some cases, servicemembers are instructed not to wear uniforms outside the installation (though having served in Germany, it doesn’t take a particularly sharp person to spot Americans in a restaurant, or bar or sidewalk).

The warning could have nothing to do with the US as the Paris Olympics will begin on July 26 and the European Football Championships are in full swing. Islamists and Columbia graduates would both be a huge target for these two groups, but again, I repeat, they are trying to show their support for Hamas terrorists. There are also other scenarios to consider.