Following Denmark, unidentified drones spotted over Germany: What is known
Photo: German police investigate suspected espionage (Getty Images)
After Denmark, unidentified drones were spotted in northern Germany — over Schleswig-Holstein. As a result, local police are strengthening drone defenses, NDR reports.
Several drones were reportedly spotted over Schleswig-Holstein on the night of Friday, September 26. According to local Interior Minister Sabine Sütterlin-Waack, a suspicion of espionage is currently being investigated.
At the same time, the minister did not provide information on the number of drones or the exact locations where they were detected. The state police, in cooperation with other northern German states, are strengthening drone defenses.
According to Sütterlin-Waack, all services remain on high alert, and the overall security situation has not changed.
Niclas Dürbrook, spokesperson for the Social Democratic Party’s faction on internal security issues, expressed concern over the news.
"Northern German states, together with the federal government and, if necessary, in coordination with our Danish neighbors, must be able to respond effectively to such incidents as quickly as possible," he said.
Drone incidents over Germany
It is reported that Schleswig-Holstein has already experienced several drone-related incidents. In early September, police special forces blocked a cargo ship on the Kiel Canal, which was allegedly being used as a base for drone flights.
In January, drones reportedly flew multiple times over the Patriot air defense base in Schwesing near Husum (North Frisia district).
In Brunsbüttel (Dithmarschen district) in August 2024, numerous illegal drone flights were recorded over critical infrastructure.
Unidentified drones over Denmark
On the evening of September 25, Aalborg Airport in Denmark was temporarily closed due to the detection of unidentified drones in the airspace. Copenhagen police reported receiving hundreds of calls from local residents who also reported seeing the drones.
For the first time, unidentified drones disrupted operations at Copenhagen and Oslo airports for several hours on the evening of September 22. They appeared again on September 23 over Copenhagen’s Kastrup Airport, forcing a temporary closure of the airport.
Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen stated that the drone situation constitutes a "serious attack on the country’s critical infrastructure." She also did not rule out possible Russian involvement in the appearance of the drones over Copenhagen.
