German prosecutors investigate five elite soldiers for alleged Kabul airport theft

The public prosecutor's office in Kempten is investigating five Bundeswehr soldiers from the Fallschirmjägerregiment 31 of Luftlandebrigade 1 for alleged thefts during the August 2021 evacuation of Kabul airport. The accused are suspected of taking items such as T‑shirts, uniform patches and knives from Afghan‑run shops in the military section of the airport. The investigation, described as an "Anfangsverdacht," began last year after a prior probe into regiment 26 and was referred to the Generalbundesanwalt to assess possible violations of the Völkerstrafgesetzbuch. The defence ministry’s disciplinary office reported the case to prosecutors and confirmed that no actions meeting the legal definition of plunder were identified. The proceedings remain ongoing, with no timetable for a conclusion.