(MENAFN) Three Germans were arrested in Norway for allegedly flying a drone in a restricted zone near Rossvoll Airport, a newspaper reported. The men were detained on Tuesday and released shortly afterward. Authorities did not disclose their identities or the type of UAV involved. Separately, a Chinese national was deported and fined 12,000 kroner ($1,200) after allegedly flying a drone near Svolvaer Airport in northern Norway. Norwegian police said they are continuing to investigate multiple reports of drone activity near airports, military facilities, and other critical infrastructure.

These incidents follow a spate of drone sightings across Western Europe, which have caused temporary airport closures and security alerts. In Belgium, 15 drones were detected above the Elsenborn military base, and Munich Airport in Germany was briefly shut down after unidentified drones entered its airspace. Scandinavian airports have also reported similar incursions. Western media and officials have suggested Russian involvement. Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson described Moscow’s role as “quite probable,” though unproven, and European leaders have used the incidents to advocate for increased military spending and a so-called “drone wall.”

Moscow has denied any connection. Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov called the claims Western fearmongering meant to justify inflated military budgets, while President Vladimir Putin stated Russia lacks drones capable of reaching the affected countries and has no military targets in Europe, labeling the accusations as another attempt to escalate tensions over the Ukraine conflict.

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