German authorities investigate theft of large ammunition shipment from parked lorry

German authorities are investigating the theft of a large shipment of ammunition that disappeared from a delivery lorry in the eastern town of Burg, the defence ministry confirmed on Tuesday. The case has raised fresh concerns about security lapses involving military supplies and follows a series of similar incidents in the region.

Officials told Germany’s DPA news agency that they could not yet disclose the exact quantity stolen, but reporting by the magazine Der Spiegel, citing an unnamed spokesperson, indicated that nearly twenty thousand rounds were missing. The ammunition vanished overnight on November 25th after a civilian transport company driver contracted by the military left his truck in an unguarded parking area.

When the lorry reached the Clausewitz Barracks the following morning, personnel discovered the shipment had been tampered with, and the ammunition was gone. The Bundeswehr has launched a joint investigation with local police to determine who may be responsible and how the theft occurred.

According to German media reports, the missing shipment included ten thousand rounds of live pistol ammunition, more than nine thousand rounds of blank ammunition for assault rifles, and several smoke grenades. Authorities have not confirmed the breakdown but said they are taking the incident extremely seriously, given the potential risks if the supplies end up in criminal hands.

A defence ministry spokesperson said the theft raised significant concerns and stressed the need to prevent military grade ammunition from circulating outside controlled channels. Investigators are looking closely at why the driver chose to park the vehicle in an unprotected location, particularly when protocols exist to assist transport personnel. Germany’s public broadcaster MDR reported that drivers can call a dedicated hotline for guidance on secure parking areas and may request an escort from military police when necessary.

In this case, the driver reportedly left the truck unattended in the lot and spent the night in a nearby hotel. Authorities are assessing whether this decision violated safety procedures or contributed directly to the opportunity for theft. So far, officials have not confirmed any arrests or identified suspects.

The incident adds to a growing list of ammunition losses reported in Saxony-Anhalt this year. Local police in Bernburg disclosed in August that ninety rounds had disappeared, while officers in Eisleben reported the loss of one hundred eighty rounds only weeks earlier. Investigators have not established a connection between the cases, but the recurring nature of the losses has prompted renewed scrutiny of security measures in the region.

As the investigation continues, officials say their priority is determining how the ammunition was stolen, ensuring accountability and strengthening safeguards to avoid similar incidents in the future.