Suspicious Drones Spy on German Parliament and Naval Base

Coordinated Drone Network Targets Critical German Infrastructure

German authorities are investigating a sophisticated drone operation that targeted critical infrastructure in northern Germany, including the state parliament building in Kiel and a major naval shipyard. According to leaked government documents obtained by Der Spiegel, multiple drones flew in coordinated patterns over sensitive locations in Schleswig-Holstein state on September 25, 2025.

Sophisticated Surveillance Operation

The drone network operated using a 'mother drone' that coordinated smaller surveillance drones flying parallel to each other to map critical infrastructure. 'The unmanned aircraft were flying in coordinated and synchronized patterns to survey the area and critical infrastructure,' police officials confirmed. The operation targeted not only the state parliament but also the ThyssenKrupp naval shipyard, a coastal power plant, the Kiel Canal, and the University Medical Center.

Additional sightings were reported over military installations in Sanitz, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, and the Heide oil refinery, which supplies fuel to Hamburg Airport. German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt described the incidents as 'a threat that requires immediate and comprehensive response.'

European Security Crisis

The German incidents follow similar drone sightings across Europe, particularly in neighboring Denmark where drone incursions forced the closure of Copenhagen and Aalborg airports for several hours. BBC News reports that European leaders are currently meeting in Copenhagen to develop a coordinated response, with Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen calling for 'a very strong answer back' to what she described as hybrid attacks.

The European Commission has proposed four urgent defense projects, including a European drone wall defense system, Eastern Flank Watch, Air Defence Shield, and Defence Space Shield. However, as German Defense Minister noted, implementing such comprehensive systems could take 3-4 years.

Germany's Response and Legal Challenges

Germany is establishing a new Center for Defense Against Drones and plans to amend the Aviation Security Act and Federal Police Act to authorize security forces to detect, intercept, and shoot down unauthorized drones. Euromaidan Press reports that Interior Minister Dobrindt emphasized the need for immediate action, stating that while drone threats may seem abstract, they become 'very concrete' due to espionage concerns.

However, the initiative faces legal and operational challenges. Police unions have expressed concerns about expanding military authority for drone neutralization, arguing that police forces should have immediate legal authority for such actions.

Broader Security Implications

These incidents occur against the backdrop of increased Russian drone and aircraft incursions into NATO airspace. According to Yahoo News, similar drone activities have been reported in Poland, Romania, Estonia, Norway, and Denmark, disrupting airport operations and raising security concerns across the alliance.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz captured the current European sentiment, stating 'we are not at war, but we are no longer at peace either,' emphasizing the need for increased security measures in what many describe as Europe's most dangerous security situation since World War II.

The investigation into the German drone incidents continues, with authorities working to identify the operators and determine whether these were isolated incidents or part of a broader pattern of hybrid warfare targeting European critical infrastructure.