Germany is on alert after drones flew over sensitive infrastructure in coordinated incidents
Germany is facing increasing security concerns after a series of coordinated drone flights were spotted over sensitive infrastructure in the states of Schleswig-Holstein and Mecklenburg-Vorpommern on the night of September 26. Authorities confirmed that several drones were seen flying over important strategic sites, raising fears of espionage or sabotage.
In the state of Schleswig-Holstein, drones were spotted over a shipyard in Kiel, a university hospital, a power station, a regional parliament building, and an oil refinery that supplies fuel to Hamburg Airport. Officials warned that the movements of the drones appeared intentional, as government documents described their path as moving in 'parallel lines' with the aim of systematically mapping the area.
Concerns have increased in the state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, where drones were spotted over military facilities in Sanitz and Rostock, while police at the Rostock port noticed several large quadcopters, each weighing more than 2.5 kilograms, operating in a "coordinated" manner. The source of these operations remains unknown, but security experts have likened these incidents to those that recently occurred in Denmark, where drones disrupted airport operations. Danish authorities have not ruled out the possibility of Russian involvement, a possibility that is currently being considered in Germany as well.
In response to this threat, German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt issued a stern warning about the "increasing danger to Germany's security." He announced the establishment of a specialized center to counter drone threats and revealed that the Bundestag is preparing legislation that allows the military to intercept and neutralize suspicious aircraft even outside military zones.
At the same time, the Ministry of the Interior of Schleswig-Holstein confirmed that the aircraft seen at night are under investigation for possible links to espionage or sabotage. State Interior Minister Sabine Sütterlin-Waack stated in a statement that her ministry is in "close and ongoing consultation with the federal government and the German armed forces," referring to similar incidents that recently occurred in Denmark and other European countries.