LOC19:02
16:02 GMT
BRUSSELS, Oct 3 (KUNA) -- Belgian DefenSe Minister Theo Francken announced Friday the launch of an investigation after unidentified drones were spotted flying over a military training camp in eastern Belgium near the German border.
Francken told reporters in Brussels that the drones were spotted over Elsenborn military base overnight from October 2 to 3, adding that he did not know the number of drones or their origin.
The minister added that the incident comes after repeated violations of European airspace by Russian drones, as well as mysterious drones flying over Denmark late last month before two gatherings of European leaders in Copenhagen.
Belgian media quoted the minister as saying, "Several drones were spotted by local police, both on the Belgian side and on the German side," confirming that authorities have launched an investigation to determine the circumstances of the incident.
The incident comes amid growing European concerns over rising hybrid threats, including cyberattacks, sabotage, and airspace violations by drones, at a time when the European Union emphasizes strengthening the protection of its security and critical infrastructure.
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arn.rk