Germany will shoot down drones near military facilities

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

Interior Secretary Nancy Fazer said in a statement that, “Especially since (Russian President Vladimir) Putin’s war of aggression against Ukraine, we have seen drones being used more and more frequently, creating an increasing challenge for the police and their modern technology. “.

Russia is suspected of starting a “shadow war” against Western countries that support Ukraine – it denies these accusations.

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

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

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

In November, Polish prosecutors announced a series of arson attacks on parcels destined for courier companies in Europe there were dry runs by groups aimed at sabotaging flights to the USA and Canada.

Tusk hosted 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 crucial submarine cables were damaged or severed last year.

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

Recently, several cases of unidentified drones flying over military bases have been recorded.

At least 10 such drones were seen flying over the Manning air base near the city of Ingolstadt on Sunday night, German police said.

Last month, there were sightings in Mönching and nearby Neuburg on the Danube.

Drones have also been spotted at the US Air Force Base in Ramstein and an industrial area near it in the North Sea.

In a statement, Home Secretary Feather said “espionage or sabotage is regularly considered as a possible cause”.

Under current rules, the German army can only help police force drones to leave or land, but also fire warning shots to make that happen.

Under the new proposals, which still need parliamentary approval, soldiers can shoot down a drone if they believe it is the only way to deal with the danger it poses “to human life or a critical object”.

In November, Polish prosecutors said a series of package arsons targeting courier companies in Poland, Germany and the UK was a plot to sabotage flights to the US and Canada.

Representatives of the Western security services believe that they were part of an organized campaign of the Russian military intelligence GRU.

Russia denies that it is behind the sabotage.

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.