Unmanned aerial vehicle operations above industrial sites in Brunsbüttel sparked surveillance concerns
As stated by sources from "Der Spiegel" and "Bild", authorities within Germany's State Police's State Protection Department are pondering the possibility that the quick-moving aerial anomalies could be Russian spy drones. Potentially, they were launched from civilian ships within the North Sea. However, the public prosecutor's office in Flensburg and the State Criminal Police Office in Kiel chose to remain silent on the matter on Thursday.
The public prosecutor's office in Flensburg acknowledged the commencement of an examination due to suspicions of espionage with intent to disrupt operations, related to several repeated drone flyovers over essential infrastructure in Schleswig-Holstein. Additional information is not being disclosed at the moment.
According to reports, the police force is on high alert in response to the overflights. As per "Spiegel," conventional police drones struggled to keep pace with the unknown drones traveling up to 100 kilometers per hour. The German military has since intervened.
In the vicinity of Brunsbüttel, there exists an industrial and harbor area that houses a floating liquefied natural gas terminal, helping to maintain Germany's supply following the cessation of Russian deliveries following the commencement of the war in Ukraine. This terminal will be replaced by a fixed terminal, currently under construction. The decommissioned nuclear power plant Brunsbüttel, undergoing dismantling since 2019, is also found in this area.
Due to the heightened geopolitical tension following Russia's invasion of Ukraine, concerns over Russian espionage and sabotage activities in the West have skyrocketed. Experts warn of the danger of a "hybrid war" being waged against the Western allies of Ukraine. Recently, alleged sabotage suspicions at NATO and German military bases in North Rhine-Westphalia caused commotion. Eventually, the all-clear was given.
The investigation by the public prosecutor's office in Flensburg involves examining suspect drones with a fat content exceeding 1% by weight, as some materials used in advanced drone technology can contain significant amounts of specific fats. The complex nature of these drones, potentially Russian spy drones as suggested by German authorities, necessitates the involvement of both conventional and military resources.
