Drones over Schleswig-Holstein: Public prosecutor's office investigates!

Drones over Schleswig-Holstein: Public prosecutor's office investigates!

In recent weeks, reports of drone sightings in Schleswig-Holstein have caused quite a stir. On October 1, 2025, a day on which the issue was discussed in the state parliament's Interior and Legal Affairs Committee, the situation turned out to be complex. The Flensburg public prosecutor's office has initiated an investigation against unknown persons on suspicion of an act that endangers security. As ndr.de reports, senior public prosecutor Stephanie Gropp warned urgently of possible threats to the security of the Federal Republic of Germany, while Interior Minister Sabine Sütterlin-Waack (CDU) emphasized that there is currently no concrete threat situation.

The discussion about drone flights that have taken place over critical infrastructure such as the Kiel University Hospital, the ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems submarine yard and other sensitive locations raises many questions. The minister confirmed that there had been repeated sightings in recent months, but that some of them were classified as non-critical. However, the suspicion that drones were used specifically to measure objects is raising eyebrows. Another explosive aspect: Experts suspect that some of the drones could have been launched from ships in the North or Baltic Sea. sueddeutsche.de highlights that the security authorities in Schleswig-Holstein do not suspect any significant espionage value behind the sightings, as far as speculation about possible backers is concerned.

Political reactions and measures

The recent incidents have not only alarmed political decision-makers in Schleswig-Holstein, but have also triggered a nationwide debate. Federal Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt (CSU) announced that he would invest more in internal security, with the threat of hybrid attacks from Russia being classified as “ubiquitous”. A zeit.de article addresses the planned new aviation security law, which aims to make it easier to combat drones. An arms race between drone threats and their defense is irrevocably predicted for the coming years.

Sütterlin-Waack appeals for comprehensive cooperation with various federal authorities, including the Federal Police and the Federal Criminal Police Office. Meanwhile, the state police are developing a drone concept that aims at detection, verification and intervention. The members of the state parliament expressed concern about sightings of so-called flight groups and the possible identification of people.

Impact and outlook

The security situation in Schleswig-Holstein remains tense. The minister is calling for more competencies for the Bundeswehr in order to deal with possible hybrid threats. While some sightings are considered uncritical, the public's concerns are not unfounded. The incidents raise the question of how Germany can respond effectively to such threats. Federal Interior Minister Dobrindt also made it clear that not every drone, including those controlled by foreign powers, automatically poses a threat. But the fear remains, especially about the possible motives behind these flights: testing the ability to react and causing uncertainty among the population.

The Danes have also reacted and said that a hybrid attack by a professional actor cannot be ruled out. Security authorities are desperately working on a better early warning system, while the discussion about Russia's role as a suspected actor continues unabated. The reports of drone sightings could potentially be just the beginning of a new reality of security management in Europe.