German authorities are investigating after two drones were spotted over a military site in western Germany, days after a separate drone carrying suspected explosives was found near Leipzig Airport, raising renewed security concerns around sensitive military and transport facilities.
The German armed forces said the two drones were seen at about 10 p.m. Thursday over the Mührnisch military site in North Rhine-Westphalia, about 35 kilometres from the Belgian border. Police are investigating the incident, but authorities have not identified the operators or established whether the drones were linked to the discovery near Leipzig.
German media reported that the military site contains a secured underground facility used to store military equipment and spare parts. Personnel responsible for maintaining U.S.-made Patriot air-defence systems are also based at the site.
The latest sighting follows the discovery on Tuesday of a drone carrying suspected explosive material near Leipzig Airport. German reports said the drone was found close to Ukrainian cargo aircraft at the airport, an important civilian freight and logistics hub.
The incidents have heightened concerns about the potential use of drones for surveillance or attacks against military bases, airports and other critical infrastructure. European governments have increasingly sought to strengthen counter-drone capabilities as unmanned aircraft become more widely used.
German authorities have not publicly attributed either incident to a foreign government. Some German lawmakers have raised the possibility of Russian involvement, but no public evidence has been presented linking Moscow to the incidents.
Russia’s embassy in Berlin rejected allegations related to the Leipzig incident, calling them a “fabricated provocation” and accusing Germany of making claims without evidence.
Investigations into both incidents remain ongoing, and authorities have not publicly established the origin, purpose or any connection between the two drones.
