Denmark makes major NATO move after 'hybrid drone attack' at airport

Denmark has contacted NATO over a drone attack at one of the country's airports.

Inbound flights to Denmark's Aalborg Airport were diverted last night after the base - also used by the military - shut down due to drones in its airspace.

"Drones have been observed near Aalborg airport and the airspace is closed. The police are present and investigating further," police said. The drones flew with their lights on.

Denmark has contacted NATO over the incursion - but has not confirmed whether it has triggered Article 4 - which a member state can raise when it feels its territorial sovereignty has been threatened. The clause is not to be confused with Article 5 on collective defence, stating an attack on one member is an attack on all.

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The country's Minister of Defence, Troels Lund Poulsen, said the drone incident was a "hybrid attack" which appears to have been launched by a "professional actor". He said the drones had "not come from a long distance", suggesting they'd been launched locally.

He noted there is no evidence Russia was behind the incident at this point in time. Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said Russian involvement could not be ruled out in relation to an attack last week at Copenhagen Airport.

At a press conference this morning, Mr Poulsen said: "There can be no doubt that everything points to this being the work of a professional actor when we are talking about such a systematic operation in so many locations at virtually the same time... This is what I would define as a hybrid attack using different types of drones."

He said the Danish armed forces could have shot the drones out of the sky, but chose not to due to risks to the civilian population.

It comes just days after Copenhagen Airport was forced to close when drones were spotted in the vicinity, causing major disruption on Monday evening.

Up to three autonomous unmanned aerial vehicle (UAVs) were reportedly detected in the airspace over the airport as police swarmed the area.