Drones flew over 4 Danish airports in a single day Wednesday into Thursday, the newest occasion of unexplained drone exercise that has raised issues about safety in northern Europe amid rising Russian aggression.
Protection Minister Troels Lund Poulsen referred to as the incidents a “hybrid assault” as a result of the flights all occurred inside roughly the identical time-frame. It was not instantly clear who was behind the incidents, however Lund Poulsen mentioned that it appeared a “skilled actor” was behind the “systematic” flights. He didn’t present extra particulars throughout a information convention Thursday morning.
Authorities mentioned there was no hazard to the general public.
The aim of the flyovers was to sow concern and division, Danish Minister of Justice Peter Hummelgaard mentioned Thursday, including that the nation will search further methods to neutralize drones, together with proposing laws to permit infrastructure house owners to shoot them down.
Flights have been halted for a number of hours at Aalborg Airport in northern Denmark, which additionally serves as a navy base. Drone sightings started shortly earlier than 10 p.m. Wednesday and ended simply earlier than 1 a.m. Thursday.
Three airports in Esbjerg, Sønderborg and Skrydstrup additionally have been impacted. Skrydstrup is an air base that’s residence to among the Danish navy’s fighter jets.
The drones seemed to be flying across the airports with their lights turned on however authorities determined towards making an attempt to shoot down the drones, police mentioned. Further particulars weren’t instantly out there.
The most recent drone exercise got here simply days after an analogous incident at Copenhagen Airport, carried out by what police name a “succesful actor.”
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The Copenhagen drones grounded flights within the Danish capital for hours Monday night time, prompting issues that Russia might be behind the flyover above Scandinavia’s largest airport.
Whereas it wasn’t instantly clear who was behind the flyover, Denmark’s prime minister and NATO’s secretary-general mentioned that Russian involvement couldn’t be dominated out. Denmark, already on edge due to its proximity to Russia, will be part of a bunch of neighbouring international locations Friday to debate the European Union’s plans for a “drone wall.”
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen referred to as the Copenhagen incident “probably the most severe assault on Danish essential infrastructure so far.”
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov rejected solutions that Moscow might be concerned.
It was not instantly clear whether or not the Copenhagen flyover was associated to the newest incidents.
Frederiksen mentioned Thursday she was in touch with NATO Secretary-Normal Mark Rutte.
“We agreed that NATO would work with Denmark on what we will do collectively to make sure security and safety,” she wrote on the social platform X.
Safety issues in northern Europe are heightened following rising Russian aggression. On Tuesday, NATO warned Russia that it could use all means to defend towards any additional breaches of its airspace after the downing earlier this month of Russian drones over Poland and Estonia’s report of an intrusion of Russian fighter jets final week.
Talking earlier than the newest drone sightings in Denmark, French President Emmanuel Macron argued that NATO nations must react “extra strongly” to Russian incursions. He didn’t element the potential response.
“We can’t enable the concept to take root that Poland, Estonia, Romania are in a weak state of affairs as a result of the following step could be Germany after which us,” Macron mentioned in an interview with broadcasters France 24 and RFI.
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