Suspicious Drone Activity Prompts heightened Alert Across Northern Europe – Fears of Hybrid Attack Grow
COPENHAGEN, Denmark – A wave of unexplained drone activity is causing significant concern across Northern Europe, with sightings reported near key military installations in Denmark, Germany, Norway, and Lithuania. The incidents,which began earlier this week with disruptions to civilian air traffic,are now focusing on sensitive military sites,prompting danish authorities to label the events a potential “hybrid attack” – though they currently lack evidence of Russian involvement.
The latest incident occurred Friday evening around 8:15 PM local time near Karup airbase,Denmark’s largest military facility,and lasted for several hours. While the airspace above the base was temporarily closed as a precaution, no commercial flights were impacted.
“Police could not comment on where the drones had come from as they had not shot them down,” duty officer Simon Skelsjaer told AFP, emphasizing ongoing cooperation between police and the Danish military in the investigation. The Danish Defense Ministry confirmed the sightings near multiple installations but declined to provide further details.
This latest activity follows a series of disruptions earlier in the week. On Wednesday, Aalborg and Billund Airports in denmark were forced to close due to drone presence, while three smaller airports experienced similar activity. Copenhagen Airport also experienced a several-hour shutdown on Monday after drones were spotted in its airspace. Oslo Airport in Norway was briefly affected by possible sightings as well.
The escalating situation has triggered investigations beyond Denmark’s borders. Germany’s interior ministry is investigating drone sightings in Schleswig-Holstein, the region bordering Denmark, with Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt stating the threat level is “high” and a discussion with European partners is planned for next month. Norwegian police are also investigating potential sightings at Orland airbase, home to the country’s F-35 fighter jets. Lithuania’s Vilnius airport experienced flight delays Friday due to drone activity, raising concerns given its proximity to Russian territory.
Karup airbase, a critical hub for the Danish Armed Forces, houses all of the nation’s helicopters, airspace surveillance capabilities, and parts of the Defence Command, employing approximately 3,500 personnel.
While authorities have refrained from speculation regarding the perpetrators, the coordinated nature of the incidents and their focus on strategic locations are fueling anxieties about potential vulnerabilities and the possibility of hostile intent. The investigation remains ongoing, with a focus on determining the origin and purpose of thes increasingly frequent drone incursions.
Keywords: Denmark, Drones, Military, Airspace, Hybrid attack, Russia, Germany, Norway, Lithuania, Karup Airbase, Airport Disruptions, Security threat, European Security, Alexander Dobrindt, Vilnius Airport, Copenhagen Airport, Oslo Airport.
