Germany to shoot down drones near military sites

A German minister has decided to authorize the military to shoot down suspicious drones seen near military bases or other sensitive equipment.

A statement from Interior Minister Nancy Faeser said, “especially since then [Russian President Vladimir] Putin’s war against Ukraine, we have seen the use of drones again and again, which creates problems for the police and their technology. “

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

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

“I can only confirm that Russia is preparing terrorist attacks, not only in Poland but also with planes around the world,” Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said on Wednesday.

He did not say anything, but his words appear to be evidence of a New York Times report that US President Joe Biden warned Putin about the alleged proposal.

In November, Polish prosecutors reported a series of fires targeting European telecommunications companies. it was dry with groups that wanted to destroy flights to the US and Canada.

Tusk was with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Warsaw, a day after NATO announced a new mission to increase surveillance of ships in the Baltic Sea after critical submarine cables were damaged or bypassed last year.

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

There have been a number of mysterious flights flying over military sites recently.

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

Last month, it was seen in Manching and near Neuburg an der Donau.

Drones have also been spotted at the US air base in Ramstein and at an industrial site near the North Sea.

In his statement, Interior Minister Faeser said “espionage or sabotage is always considered as a possible cause”.

Under current law, the German Army can help police force drones to take off or land – and fire warnings to prevent this from happening.

Under the new proposal – which still needs to be approved by parliament – the military can shoot down a drone if they think it is the only way to deal with a danger that poses “against the lives of people or sensitive areas”.

In November, Polish prosecutors said that a series of bombs targeting telecommunications companies in Poland, Germany and the UK were dry bombs aimed at destroying airlines bound for the US and Canada.

Western security officials believe he was part of the Russian military’s GRU.

Russia denies responsibility for the attacks.

But they are believed to be responsible for other attacks on warehouses and trains in EU member states this year, including in Sweden and the Czech Republic.