Drones spotted over military base in western Germany

Two drones were spotted over a military base in western Germany just days after an explosive-laden device was found at Leipzig airport.

Germany's armed forces (Bundeswehr) confirmed they were seen on Thursday evening at a base in Mechernich, near Bonn, reportedly housing components for US-made Patriot air-defence systems.

A spokeswoman for the Bundeswehr Joint Force Command said military police were deployed to the site before the matter was handed over to local police.

It is the latest instance of drones being spotted near military bases or airports in European nations supporting Ukraine in its war with Russia, on which suspicion has fallen. Moscow has consistently denied any involvement.

German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt told newspaper Bild on Sunday that Germany had become a regular target of "destabilising" attacks.

"We're not at war, but we are the daily target of hybrid warfare," he said.

Germany is currently investigating how a drone laden with explosives was able to reach a runway at Leipzig/Halle airport, which is used by Nato, the Germany military and serves as a base for Ukraine's Antonov Airlines.

The Bundeswehr declined to comment on the ongoing investigation when asked by the BBC on Sunday about the suspected origins of the drones spotted above Mechernich.

The local police force has been contacted for comment.

German media reports that the base has a storage facility for equipment and spare parts used to maintain the Patriot missile batteries.

The air-defence systems have become crucial to Ukraine's ability to intercept Russian ballistic missiles since Moscow's full-scale invasion began in 2022.

However, President Volodymyr Zelensky this week pleaded to allies for further supplies, warning that Ukraine was running out of interceptor missiles.

After initially offering Ukraine license to make Patriots in early July, US President Donald Trump last week denied any such agreement.

A spate of drone sightings in European airspace last year left the continent on high alert, prompting the EU to discuss a continent-wide "drone wall" of air defences.

Some European officials have blamed Russia for these drone sightings, claims Moscow has previously described as "absurd".