A modulation of microturbulence is observed in TEXTOR during low mode number MHD activity using CO2 laser collective scattering. This is accompanied by a strong enhancement of density fluctuations near kas ≈ 3 at the end of soft landing discharges and a displacement of the frequency spectrum towards lower frequencies. The increase is most significant for rapid rampdown of the plasma current accompanied by strong MHD activity but also occurs when the latter is not detected. The evolution of microturbulence is also studied during major plasma disruptions. It was found that disruptions without MHD precursor oscillations are characterized by a rapid increase in the density fluctuations starting ~100 ms before plasma disruption.