Drone Sightings Raise Alarm at Belgian Military Base
(MENAFN) Several drones were observed hovering over a military installation in Belgium on Saturday evening and again during the night, prompting concerns about national security, Defense Minister Theo Francken confirmed on Wednesday.
"Our guard post in Marche-en-Famenne noticed multiple drones over crucial parts of the headquarters of our army brigade on Saturday evening during an extended period. It was not the work of amateurs, but of skilled drone pilots," he posted on the US social media platform X.
Francken noted that authorities, including the police and the General Intelligence and Security Service, are examining this "worrying incident" at the base, situated roughly 113 kilometers (70 miles) southeast of Brussels.
"Flying drones over military quarters is absolutely prohibited. We must be able to take them out of the air," he stressed.
In a statement to a Flemish newspaper, Francken revealed that "there were four or five drones at the time," highlighting the high-security nature of the site.
He noted that "our main army barracks and critical infrastructure are located there."
This episode marks the third recent report of drone activity near Belgian military locations, following earlier sightings at the Elsenborn camp in the East Cantons, according to the newspaper.
The source of the drones remains uncertain. Although there has been speculation regarding Russian involvement, Francken told the newspaper that no confirmation exists.
"I can say that these are actors with malicious intent. This isn't some mischievous kid flying his drone over a barracks for fun. This was a clearly orchestrated operation against the heart of our army ... They were searching for crucial information about the critical infrastructure located within the military domain," he explained.
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