Prosecutors in Kempten, Germany, are investigating five Bundeswehr soldiers on suspicion of theft during the 2021 evacuation mission at Kabul airport. The soldiers allegedly took items including T-shirts, fabric patches, and knives from shops in the military section of the airport, where military equipment was sold.
The accused were armed members of Paratrooper Regiment 31, part of the evacuation contingent. The probe originated in 2025 from a separate investigation into Paratrooper Regiment 26. Investigators are now examining whether the thefts constituted theft with weapons.
The Federal Prosecutor General ruled out charges of looting or violations of international criminal law, determining the alleged acts did not meet the threshold for war crimes. The investigation into the remaining charges is ongoing.