Two suspected drones were spotted during the evening over a Bundeswehr military base in Mechernich, in Germany’s North Rhine-Westphalia state. Initial media reports had mentioned six possible sightings.
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A spokesperson for the German Armed Forces’ Operational Command confirmed the presence of the drones to German media, according to Spiegel. Euskirchen police were notified immediately after the incident and took over the investigation.
New information indicates that the incident was recorded by the base’s security center. The facility stores military equipment and spare parts for vital defense systems, including components of the Patriot air defense system, housed in underground facilities.
The incident in Mechernich comes as German authorities are also examining a drone incident at Leipzig/Halle Airport. Recently uncovered information about that case has increased suspicions that the drone may have been of Russian origin.
CNN and The Wall Street Journal, citing US government and military officials, report that US intelligence agencies assess that the drone involved belonged to a Russian intelligence service. The same reports emphasize that the characteristics of the explosives found suggest the use of military-grade materials.
Politicians from the CDU and the opposition in Germany have accused Russia of involvement. Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt has been more cautious in public, describing the overall situation as a “hybrid attack” while not ruling out that “foreign forces” may be behind the incidents.
At Leipzig/Halle Airport, Germany’s Federal Police have meanwhile activated a new advanced system for monitoring and identifying drones.
The system is called EchoShield and consists of a state-of-the-art radar capable of detecting drones over long distances and tracking their flight paths.
The Russian Embassy in Berlin has denied accusations that Moscow was involved in the drone incident at Leipzig/Halle Airport.
In a statement published last Saturday, the embassy described the incident as a “hastily contrived provocation,” claiming that it serves the interests of Ukraine and circles within Europe’s political class.
The Russian diplomatic mission also spoke of a “new wave of anti-Russian hysteria” in Germany and rejected claims of Moscow’s involvement.
The latest cases have deepened concern in Germany over drones flying over strategic sites and critical infrastructure, as European countries remain on heightened alert for possible hybrid threats.
Investigations into the drone incidents are continuing. German authorities are working to determine their origin and establish whether the cases are connected.
