Thousands of rounds stolen from shipment for German military

Unknown perpetrators have stolen large amounts of ammunition destined for Germany's armed forces from a vehicle operated by a civilian transport company, the Defence Ministry confirmed.

German news magazine Der Spiegel and broadcaster MDR previously reported that some 20,000 rounds were stolen near the town of Burg, to the west of Berlin.

A spokesman for the military support division in Bonn said the ammunition was stolen from a trailer of the transport company one night last week, either late Monday or early Tuesday.

The theft was only noticed when the vehicle arrived for delivery at the barracks in Burg and reported immediately, he added.

The Defence Ministry confirmed to Der Spiegel that the driver had parked the lorry containing ammunition for the military in an unsecured car park in an industrial area near Burg.

Local media outlet Meetingpoint Jerichower Land reported, citing the Bundeswehr, that around 10,000 rounds of live 9-millimetre combat ammunition and just under 9,900 rounds of training ammunition were stolen.