Drones were spotted over key infrastructure, including a submarine shipyard and a power plant, in the northern German state of Schleswig-Holstein last week, DPA reported, citing local authorities, BTA reports.
The province, which borders Denmark, has seen similar incidents, while airports in the neighboring country have been temporarily closed due to numerous drone overflights. The situation has sparked serious reactions among Danish politicians and NATO allies.
The incidents come amid rising tensions on NATO's eastern flank after Russian aircraft violated the airspace of Poland, Romania and Estonia.
The provincial interior minister, Sabine Süterlin-Wack, told the regional parliament that in most cases the objects detected last Friday night turned out to be airplanes, helicopters or legally used drones. However, it remains unclear what some of the devices were, especially those flying over military sites, which is why the prosecutor's office has opened an investigation.
The premier of Schleswig-Holstein, Daniel Günther, stressed that drones in various EU countries, including Germany, in recent months have a clear purpose of creating a sense of insecurity and destabilization. According to him, this is part of the hybrid war, which also includes disinformation, espionage and sabotage. He insisted on the rapid establishment of an effective system to counter drones in order to protect critical infrastructure and the population.
Der Spiegel magazine first reported on the drones over Germany, specifying that they flew over a power plant in Kiel, a university hospital and the ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems shipyard. According to the publication, some of the devices flew in formation around the so-called “mother drone“.
Other targets detected include the local parliament building in Kiel and a refinery in Heide, Spiegel specified, citing sources from the security services.
The cases have sparked a debate in Germany about the necessary legal measures in such situations, as well as the risks of possibly shooting down drones over populated areas, commented DPA.