Germany plans anti-sabotage shield after airport drone attack

Germany is preparing a comprehensive set of measures to bolster its defenses against drone attacks, cyber intrusions, and Russian sabotage following a failed airport drone attack last month, according to an interior ministry spokesperson. Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt informed the Bild am Sonntag newspaper, which initially disclosed the plans, that Russia's hybrid attacks have become commonplace.

"These attacks will escalate, but we possess the capability to defend and protect ourselves," Dobrindt was quoted as stating. Russia has consistently denied accusations of conducting operations in Western Europe and has rejected responsibility for the German airport attack, with Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov labeling the allegations as "the beginning of a genuine war," as per state news agency TASS.

The ministry spokesperson revealed that the police would bolster mobile drone defense capabilities, deploying swiftly deployable counter-drone units in major cities to safeguard airspace over crucial transportation hubs and governmental areas. Entities operating critical infrastructure, including power utilities and defense manufacturers, would be granted legal authority to not only detect drones but also actively neutralize them.

A national protective shield, or "cyberdome," would be created, comprising a network of digital sensors engineered to identify and intercept attempts at hacking. The government also plans to broaden the use of AI-supported technologies, biometric facial recognition, and video surveillance, for instance, at railway stations, to identify potential attackers planning acts of sabotage.