Denmark reported additional unexplained drone sightings on Saturday, this time over military facilities, including its largest military base, following disruptions at airports earlier this week that led to grounded flights. The country is still deliberating its response.
Denmark’s Armed Forces confirmed more drones were observed overnight.
“The Danish Defense can confirm that drones were spotted at several Danish Defense locations last night. Various capabilities were deployed,” a spokesperson told the outlet.
Police noted drone sightings near the Karup air base in western Denmark, Reuters reported, citing Ritzau News agency.
In addition to the incidents in Denmark, Norway also experienced reported drone encounters. Norwegian police are reportedly investigating potential occurrences near an air force base in central Norway, which houses the country’s F-35 fighter jets, Reuters added.
“Guards at the base made multiple observations outside the base’s perimeter early Saturday,” a spokesperson for the Norwegian Armed Forces’ joint headquarters informed Reuters.
Saturday’s incidents follow just days after Denmark’s Aalborg Airport, also used by the Danish military, was closed due to drone detections.
Danish authorities described the drone incident as a “hybrid attack” originating from a “professional actor.” The publication stated that authorities clarified the drones were launched locally and not from Russia.
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On Monday, Copenhagen Airport was affected by a similar drone incident. Unlike the Aalborg event, some suspected Russia might have been behind this attack.
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen reportedly called it “the most severe attack on Danish critical infrastructure to date.” She also noted that the nation was “not ruling out any options regarding who is behind it.”
NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte stated on Friday that he discussed the drones with Frederiksen and that the alliance was taking the incidents “very seriously.”
“NATO Allies and Denmark are collaborating on how to ensure the safety and security of our vital infrastructure,” Rutte posted on X.
While some believed the country was considering triggering NATO’s Article 4 to convene allied nations over the drone incidents, Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen declared the country had “no reason to do so.” Rasmussen explained that after Article 4 was recently activated due to aerial disturbances in Poland and Estonia, Denmark saw no necessity to do the same, Reuters reported.
Despite neither initiating a NATO response nor shooting down the drones, Denmark continues to deliberate a potential reaction to the sightings.