- Oversee the aftermath of occurrences with meticulous attention
Authorities in Schleswig-Holstein are handling drone flights over a commercial area in Brunsbüttel with great caution, as stated by Interior Minister Sabine Sütterlin-Waack. "Federal and local security agencies have been issuing warnings about espionage and sabotage for some time, and this continues to be the case," the CDU politician pointed out. "We're certainly looking into any potential espionage or sabotage suspicions in Schleswig-Holstein and are keeping a very close eye on this situation."
The drone activities were reported to have started over the ChemCoast Park in Brunsbüttel since early August. According to "Der Spiegel", up to four drones have been spotted over the area on various nights since August 8. NDR reported, based on its own sources, that drones were also seen on Friday night.
The Flensburg state prosecutor's office, which handles state security matters, has launched an investigation into the suspicion of espionage for "sabotage purposes". The office declined to provide any information about the drones' origin or intended target. Several media outlets suggested Russia as a potential suspect.
The Interior Minister of Schleswig-Holstein commented: "We've procured devices for drone defense and are in the process of acquiring more. We're also working closely with other states and the federal government, and receiving technical support from them."
The drone flights are expected to be a point of discussion in the state parliament. "We'll have the state government report on this in the next interior committee on September 4," said SPD MP Niclas Dürbrook. "These are quite alarming reports. It's reassuring that the federal and state governments are now collaborating to uncover the truth behind these incidents."
The authorities are closely monitoring any aircraft, such as drones, in the commercial area of Brunsbüttel due to potential espionage or sabotage concerns. The Interior Minister has stated that they have procured devices for drone defense and are working with other states to tackle this issue.
