Drones spy on Kiel

In recent days, airports in Scandinavia have had to be closed several times due to drone sightings. Suspicious unmanned aerial vehicles have also appeared in Germany, for example, a few days ago over the Schleswig-Holstein state capital of Kiel. These were apparently traveling on a spying mission, as the news magazine Der Spiegel reported today, citing an internal official memo .

The drones were apparently traveling as a swarm. The memo quoted by Der Spiegel (paywall) refers to a “drone formation with a mother drone.” One such formation was spotted over the university hospital, others over the Kiel Canal and the Kiel Fjord.

According to the report, the drones flew over “important critical infrastructure facilities in a targeted manner.” These included the shipyard site where Thyssenkrupp builds naval vessels, a power plant, and the Kiel Canal. The Schleswig-Holstein state parliament and the university hospital were also flown over. Another swarm was sighted over the refinery in Heide, which produces aviation fuel.

Investigation on suspicion of espionage

The drones were obviously on a spying mission; police officers observed that the drones were flying in parallel paths, presumably to survey structures on the ground. Interior Minister Sabine Sütterlin-Waack (CDU) announced that an investigation was underway on suspicion of espionage. However, she did not provide any further details.

It was not the only drone incident in recent days: flying objects were also spotted over a Bundeswehr base in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania and at several locations in Rostock, with several flying in a coordinated swarm over the overseas harbor in Rostock. In Denmark and Norway, airports were flown over, and some even had to be closed. The Danish government has reacted to the incidents and banned all civilian drone flights in the country for now. This will initially apply until next Friday.

It is unclear who is using the drones. However, it is suspected that Russia is behind the actions. Due to the increasing number of incidents, Federal Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt (CSU) is calling for the powers of the German Armed Forces to be extended. It should “provide administrative assistance to the police in domestic operations […] – especially in drone defense missions.” During the “Red Storm Bravo” maneuver, which was held in Hamburg recently, the Bundeswehr rehearsed drone defense with Argus Interception, a drone that shoots nets to bring down other drones.

(wpl)