Germany to shoot down drones near military bases

The German cabinet has decided to authorize the military to shoot down suspicious drones seen near military bases or other critical infrastructure.

Interior Secretary Nancy Feathers said in a statement that since[Russian President Vladimir]Putin’s war of aggression against Ukraine, we have seen the use of drones more frequently, which is challenging police and existing technology. “.

Russia has been accused of waging a “shadow war” against Western countries that support Ukraine – a charge it denies.

This includes attempts to blow up international airlines, attack infrastructure – or interfere in democratic elections.

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said on Wednesday that “I can confirm that Russia is planning air terror activities not only against Poland, but also against the world’s airlines.”

He did not provide any details, but his statement appeared to confirm a New York Times report that US President Joe Biden had warned Putin about the alleged plan.

In November, Polish prosecutors said a series of attacks targeted courier companies in Europe. There have been dry runs by groups intent on disrupting flights to the US and Canada..

Tusk was hosting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Warsaw, a day after NATO announced the launch of a new mission to boost surveillance of ships in the Baltic Sea after critical undersea cables were damaged or cut last year.

Putin launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

There have been several recent incidents of unidentified drones flying over military bases.

At least 10 such drones were seen flying over München Airport near the city of Ingolstadt on Sunday evening, German police said.

Last month, there were things to see in Manching and nearby Neuburg an der Donna.

Drones have also been spotted at a US airfield in Ramstein and an industrial zone near the North Sea.

“Espionage or sabotage is normally considered a factor,” Home Secretary Feder said in a statement.

Under current law, the German military can only help police force drones to leave or land — but only to fire warning shots to make that happen.

Under the new proposal – which still needs parliamentary approval – troops can shoot down a drone if they think it is the only way to deal with a threat to “human life or critical infrastructure”.

In November, Polish prosecutors said a series of fires targeting courier companies in Poland, Germany and the United Kingdom were dry runs aimed at disrupting flights to the United States and Canada.

Western security officials believe they were part of a coordinated operation by Russia’s military intelligence agency, the GRU.

Russia denies being behind the alleged attacks.

But it is suspected of being behind other attacks on warehouses and rail networks in EU member states this year, including in Sweden and the Czech Republic.