German police investigate suspected Russian espionage at military bases

PHOTO CAPTION: Illustrative photo — A German military policeman is seen during a training exercise at Hohenfels, Germany, March 13, 2024. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Justin Hough via U.S. Defense Visual Information Distribution Service)

BERLIN (Reuters) -     German police have launched an investigation into suspected cases of Russian espionage after drones were spotted over several military installations in Bavaria, according to a statement on Monday.

Against the backdrop of Russia's war on Ukraine, it could not be ruled out that German military installations and defence companies were being spied on by drones, Bavaria's State Office of Criminal Investigation said. 

The latest incident occurred late on Sunday when a drone was spotted over a military base near Manching, police said, referring to a vast facility where the German forces test new manned and unmanned aircraft.

Drones were seen over the base near Manching on three days in December, the statement said. Another unauthorized overflight happened that same month over a military installation in Neuburg an der Donau. 

Germany's federal police Bundeskriminalamt warned companies in December that there could be Russian saboteurs among their employees and contractors. Russia has denied such accusations.

Investigators pointed to a series of unauthorized drone overflights at sites including military facilities, LNG and oil terminals, seaports and logistics companies as examples of suspected sabotage by Russian state actors in recent months.

The head of Germany's foreign intelligence service, Bruno Kahl, said last month Russia's acts of sabotage against Western targets may eventually prompt NATO to consider invoking the alliance's Article 5 mutual defence clause. 

Under the article, if a NATO member comes under attack, the other members of the alliance are obliged to help it to respond.

 (Reporting by Sabine Siebold; Editing by Bernadette Baum)