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Germany Plans National Counter-Drone Law, Bavaria to Grant Police Shootdown Powers
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Bavaria’s cabinet has approved a draft law empowering state police to destroy drones that pose a threat to public safety, moving the measure to the regional parliament amid a spike in suspicious drone sightings across Europe cited by Reuters on October 8.
The step follows consecutive disruptions at Munich Airport on October 3–4 that forced suspensions of operations, with 17 flights canceled and 15 diverted on the first night and nearly 3,000 passengers affected, according to airport and police accounts
Officials framed the change as a response to “acute danger” scenarios. Bavaria’s Interior Minister Joachim Herrmann said police should be allowed to shoot down drones “in the event of acute danger,” while noting decisions must be both lawful and proportionate.
“When drone activity disrupts flight operations, it’s not just a safety issue—it damages confidence in the reliability of air travel,” added Ralph Beisel, head of the German airports association.
The Bavarian initiative sits within a broader European response after temporary airport closures in Denmark and Norway and multiple sightings near critical infrastructure in Germany and Belgium.
Germany’s interior minister has said Berlin is preparing national legislation to strenghen counter-drone authorities and coordination, including the option for police to request armed-forces assistance. EU leaders meeting in Copenhagen last week also backed enhanced anti-drone defenses.
Earlier, it was reported that German police deployed a laser-based system at Munich Airport to help detect and track unauthorized drones after repeated disruptions.
