Denmark banned civilian drone flights on Sept. 28 ahead of a meeting of European Union leaders in the country later this week.
The move comes after unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) were observed at several military facilities on Sept. 28. Other drone activity forced the temporary closures of several Danish airports on Sept. 22.
Copenhagen Airport itself was shut for almost four hours.
The ban barred civilian drones from Danish airspace from Sept. 29 through Oct. 3, when Denmark, which holds the rotating presidency of the EU for the second half of this year, will be hosting European leaders.
Violations are punishable by a fine or imprisonment for up to two years.
“We are currently in a difficult security situation, and we must ensure the best possible working conditions for the armed forces and the police when they are responsible for security during the EU summit,” Danish Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen said on Sept. 28.
Hellbound and Down 