Germany will roll out a comprehensive anti‑sabotage programme following a failed drone attack on a German airport last month, Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt said on September 6, 2026. The plan targets drone incursions, cyber intrusions and other forms of sabotage that officials say are becoming a daily reality.
Dobrindt told reporters that the package will expand mobile police drone‑defence units, stationing rapid‑deployment squads in major cities to guard airspace over transport hubs and government districts. Companies that run critical infrastructure – including energy utilities and defence manufacturers – will receive legal authorisation to both detect and actively repel hostile drones.
A new “cyberdome” will be created, linking a nationwide network of digital sensors designed to spot and block cyber‑attack attempts before they reach critical systems. The government also plans to broaden the use of artificial‑intelligence tools, biometric facial‑recognition and video surveillance, for example in railway stations, to identify individuals preparing sabotage acts.
Russia has denied any involvement in the German airport incident and rejected accusations of conducting sabotage operations in Western Europe. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, quoted by state news agency TASS, described the allegations as “the beginning of a real war.”
The measures come as European nations grapple with a rise in hybrid threats that blend physical attacks with cyber and electronic warfare. German officials said the initiative aims to deter future attacks and protect the continuity of essential services.
The plan will be coordinated by the Interior Ministry, with input from police forces, cyber‑security agencies and industry stakeholders. Funding details were not disclosed, but the rollout is expected to begin later this year, with pilot deployments in the busiest airports and rail hubs.
