Germany records over 1,000 suspicious drone flights since start of year

Germany’s Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA) has recorded more than 1,000 suspicious drone flights since the beginning of the year, according to an internal federal report cited by Welt.

The report, compiled for the first time, assesses the threat posed by drones as tools for criminal and hostile activity. It includes all recorded suspicious cases since the start of the year and draws on information provided by Germany’s armed forces, the report said.

BKA chief Holger Münch said that military facilities, airports, and other critical infrastructure, including weapons manufacturers and port facilities, have been most affected, warning that the overall level of threat is significant.

Münch noted that authorities cannot say with absolute certainty whether the drones are always controlled by Russian entities, stressing that it is extremely difficult to identify and question drone operators. However, he said that in many cases the activity appears to be state-controlled and aimed at spreading uncertainty.

He also warned that, beyond their psychological impact, drone flights may be used for intelligence-gathering purposes.

Münch pointed in particular to frequent flights over military facilities in Germany where Ukrainian soldiers are being trained, suggesting that drones could detect smartphones present at such sites and potentially track them later on the battlefield in Ukraine.

By Sabina Mammadli