Germany will shoot down drones near military sites

Germany’s cabinet has decided to authorize the military to shoot down suspicious drones spotted near military sites or other critical infrastructure.

A statement from Interior Secretary Nancy Feser said that, “Especially since (Russian President Vladimir) Putin’s aggressive war against Ukraine, we have seen that drones are being used more and more frequently, which “There is a growing challenge for the police and their current technology.” ,

Russia is suspected of waging a “shadow war” against Western countries supporting Ukraine – a charge it denies.

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

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said on Wednesday, “I can only confirm that Russia has planned air terrorist acts not only against Poland but against airlines around the world.”

He gave no details, but his statement appeared to confirm a New York Times report that US President Joe Biden had warned Putin about the alleged plans.

In November, Polish prosecutors said a series of parcel fires targeted courier companies in Europe The dry run was carried out by groups aiming to sabotage flights in the US and Canada,

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

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

Recently, many cases of flying unidentified drones on military bases have come to light.

German police said at least 10 such drones were seen flying over Manching Air Base near the city of Ingolstadt on Sunday evening.

Last month, scenes were seen in Manching and nearby Neuburg an der Donau.

Drones were also seen at the US air base in Ramstein and an industrial area near it in the North Sea.

In his statement, Interior Minister Feser said, “espionage or sabotage are routinely considered possible causes”.

Under current rules, the German military can only help police force drones to move away or land – but can also fire warning shots to do so.

Under the new proposals – which still need parliamentary approval – troops could shoot down drones if they believe it is the only way to deal with a threat “against human life or against a critical facility”.

In November, Polish prosecutors said a series of parcel fires targeting courier companies in Poland, Germany and the UK were dry runs aimed at sabotaging flights to the US and Canada.

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

Russia denies being behind the acts of sabotage.

But it is suspected to be behind other attacks on warehouses and railway networks in EU member states including Sweden and the Czech Republic this year.