German police to be given powers to shoot down drones
Following a series of drone sightings suspected of Russian espionage and intimidation activities, it has been announced that German federal police will soon be permitted to shoot down unmanned aerial vehicles.
German police to be given power to shoot down drones
German police can soon shoot down drones, addressing potential Russian threat
Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt announced that a new draft law will give police the power to remove drones that illegally enter German airspace, including by shooting them down if they are deemed a threat or pose a serious threat. Other measures include using lasers or jamming their signals.
Police are primarily responsible for dealing with drones that hover up to tree height, while any higher altitudes are handled by the military.
German authorities also plan to strengthen their response by establishing an anti-drone unit. If the bill passes, it will put Germany in line with other countries, including France, the UK, Romania, and Lithuania, which have also expanded the powers of their security forces.
Dobrindt said Germany was learning about drones from its allies Israel and Ukraine.
Germany is supporting Ukraine, which is currently under Russian aggression, and as a result, there have been a series of sightings of drones believed to be Russian in Germany.
Drones have been spotted particularly at important infrastructure facilities such as military bases and industrial areas, and once at an airport, causing actual damage by forcing several flights to be canceled for safety checks.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said: 'It is clear that Russian President Vladimir Putin recognises these as Russian drones. He is trying to intimidate and frighten us. We will not succumb to intimidation and will effectively defend ourselves against this threat.'
European Union leaders, seeing Russia as a major threat due to the EU's support for Ukraine, are also promoting the development of a 'Drone Wall' drone protection system, which uses sensors and weapons to monitor and eliminate drones, ensuring security in eastern Europe.
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