German police to have right to shoot down drones that invade country’s airspace

Germany will grant police the power to shoot down rogue drones like those that have disrupted airports across Europe, Reuters writes.

The new law, agreed by the cabinet on Wednesday and awaiting parliamentary approval, explicitly authorises the police to down drones violating Germany’s airspace, including shooting them down in cases of acute threat or serious harm.

“Drone incidents threaten our security,” Chancellor Friedrich Merz said in a post on social media platform X. “We will not permit that. We are strengthening the Federal Police’s powers so that drones can be detected and countered more quickly in future.”

The new law comes after dozens of flights were diverted or cancelled last Friday at Munich Airport, Germany’s second largest, leaving more than 10,000 passengers stranded, after rogue drone sightings.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has described the appearance of drones in EU airspace as a hybrid war waged by Russia.