OSLO, Sept. 30 (Xinhua) -- The Faroe Islands authorities have activated the Strategic Crisis Staff, an inter-agency group that convenes during security incidents, to assess potential drone threats following a series of incidents in Danish airspace, Faroese Justice Minister Bjarni Karason Petersen said Tuesday.
Petersen told Danish broadcaster DR that the autonomous government is coordinating with the Danish Arctic Command and the Faroe Islands Police to review preparedness and clarify responsibilities in the event of foreign drone activity near the islands' airport or critical infrastructure. He stressed that there is currently no indication of an elevated risk in the Faroe Islands, but the situation is being closely monitored.
Faroese Police Director Michael Boolsen said emergency readiness is under review in cooperation with the Danish National Police.
Last week, a French naval vessel docked in Torshavn, the capital of the Faroe Islands, reported two separate drone overflights. Police have identified the operator in one case and continue to investigate the second. Boolsen emphasized there is no link between these incidents in Torshavn and the recent drone activity at Danish airports and military facilities.
Over the past week, Denmark has faced multiple drone reports that led to temporary airspace closures at major airports and military bases ahead of the informal meeting of European Union (EU) heads of state or government and the European Political Community (EPC) summit in Copenhagen. To safeguard the events, Denmark has banned all civilian drone flights nationwide from Sept. 29 to Oct. 3.
The Faroe Islands, a self-governing territory within the Kingdom of Denmark, lie in the North Atlantic. ■
