Germany Moves to Shoot Down Suspicious Drones Amid Espionage Fears

On Sunday evening, at least ten suspicious drones were spotted hovering above the Manching Air Base near Ingolstadt, prompting a swift response from German authorities. The German police have launched an investigation into this startling incident. Interior Minister Nancy Faeser has raised concerns about potential espionage or sabotage, given the drones' unexpected presence near critical military sites.

In response to this growing threat, the German cabinet has authorized the army to shoot down any suspicious drones near military sites or critical infrastructure. Previously, the German Army could only assist police in forcing drones to move away, land, or fire warning shots. This decision aims to bolster security as sightings of drones have also been reported at the US air base at Ramstein and an industrial zone in the North Sea.

Interior Minister Faeser highlighted the increasing challenge posed by drones, particularly since the onset of Russia's aggressive actions against Ukraine.

"Especially since [Russian President Vladimir] Putin's war of aggression against Ukraine, we have seen that drones are being used more and more frequently, which poses an increasing challenge for the police and their current technology," said Interior Minister Nancy Faeser.

This incident follows recent sightings at Manching and nearby Neuburg an der Donau last month. While Russia denies involvement, there is suspicion of a "shadow war" orchestrated by Russia against Western nations supporting Ukraine. This suspicion is underscored by Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk's endorsement of Germany's decision as a "good step."

In November, Polish prosecutors revealed that a series of parcel fires targeting courier companies in Europe were believed to be dry runs by groups aiming to sabotage flights to the US and Canada. Western security officials suspect these fires were part of an orchestrated campaign by Russia's military intelligence agency, the GRU.

The move to authorize shooting down drones is part of a broader response to a series of drone-related incidents across the European Union. Nato has announced a new mission to enhance surveillance of ships in the Baltic Sea following last year's damage to critical undersea cables.