The Danish National Police has raised the crisis level, and its national operational staff (NOST) will be working around the clock.

NOST usually comes together when major incidents happen in Denmark. It was last activated on Monday, when several drones flew around Copenhagen airport, according to national broadcaster DR.

Police Chief Thorkild Foged says NOST will increase cooperation with security authorities as well as with the energy and transport sectors.

Journalists just asked the panel about Nato’s Article 4, which initiates a serious discussion with the other Nato countries.

(NB: This is not the same as Article 5, which states that “an armed attack against one…shall be considered an attack against them all.”)

The government has not made a final decision on this yet, says the Minister of Defence, Troels Lund Poulsen. But he adds they have reached out to Nato.

Paul Kirby
Europe digital editor

The big question for Denmark and other countries in Europe that have faced so-called hybrid attacks from drones is how to defend against them.

Drones are relatively cheap to launch but have proved expensive to bring down. Earlier this month European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen called for a “drone wall” to tackle a wave of drone incursions launched by Russia.

What that means is not entirely clear but detecting the drones early and then destroying them is seen as key.

Denmark will join several frontline European countries – all along the EU’s eastern flank with Russia – in a virtual meeting on Friday to assess how to protect their borders with this “drone wall”.

They include the Baltic republics, Poland, Romania and Bulgaria, along with Ukraine. Although Ukraine is not part of the project, it has the most expertise in bringing down drones.

As the officials continue to answer questions, the minister of defence adds that last night’s drones were launched “locally”.

Lund Poulsen says this is different from previous incidents.

He adds that while the defence ministry currently doesn’t know where the drones where dispatched from, “they have not come from a long distance”.

The question of Russian involvement is raised and it’s the Defence Minister Troels Lund Poulsen who answers.

He says there is no evidence that Russia is behind the drone incursion.

We come to questions now – Chief of Defence Michael Hyldgaard is asked why the drones were not shot down.

He says an assessment was made and the drones were not shot down for the safety for the population. He adds that the armed forces are making constant assessments.

National police chief Thorkild Fogde says it is going to be a big task for the police to go through each of these incidents.

Fogde says they will do everything they can to find out who launched the drones and why they were sent out.

The minister continues, saying a meeting has been called for Friday at the EU level to discuss how to improve and strengthen drone preparedness across the continent.

The EU commission, several member states as well as Ukraine’s Minister of Defence have been invited to attend.

Defence Minister Troels Lund Poulsen is next to speak, saying that the drone sightings indicate that a professional actor is behind it.

He says it looks systematic, and describes it as a hybrid attack.

“There can be no doubt that everything points to this being the work of a professional actor when we are talking about such a systematic operation in so many locations at virtually the same time,” he says.

“This is what I would define as a hybrid attack using different types of drones.”

He adds that the Danish armed forces have the capacity to down drones, but that there is no direct military threat against Denmark at this stage.

The Danish minister of justice continues, saying the hybrid threats his country is facing are “here to stay”.

Hummelgaard says local authorities are working at full speed to uncover the details of last night’s incident.

He adds that nothing is currently being ruled out in terms of who might behind it.

Peter Hummelgaard, Denmark’s justice minister, starts off by saying it’s time to “stand together”.

He says the incidents last night are a continuation of a long series of escalating episodes across Europe.

We’ll bring you the top lines here – and you can watch the press conference, in Danish, by clicking Watch Live at the top of the page.

Paul Kirby
Europe digital editor

It’s too early to say who is behind the latest drone incidents that have disrupted air traffic over Jutland.

Several airports have been affected – but significantly one of those airports in Aalborg is close to a military base, and a second airbase at Skrydstrup also reported drone activity. This is where some of Denmark’s fleet of Denmark’s F-16 and F-35 fighter jets are based.

The drone incident that closed Copenhagen airport on Monday night was already an alarm call – and prompted Denmark’s prime minister to speak of “the most serious attack on Danish critical infrastructure to date”.

The latest incidents are far more widespread and Danes are now raising questions about their air defences.

Russia has denied involvement in the Copenhagen incident, but there are further concerns now that Denmark is being subjected to hybrid warfare.

This is not the first Danish airport closure as a result ofdrones this week – Copenhagen airport was forced to close as a result of dronesentering its airspace on Monday.

Authorities said that two to three large drones were spottedwhich suspended take-offs and landings for around four hours.

Danish police couldn’t confirm the type or the number ofdrones seen around the capital’s airport, but on Tuesday told reporters theywere likely flown by a “capable operator” who wanted to “show off”.

Asked by reporters on Monday if the drones were of Russianorigin, Deputy Police Inspector Jakob Hansen said he could not confirm or denythis. Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said Russian involvement could not be ruled out

Later on social media, Ukrainian President VolodymyrZelensky referenced “Russia’s violation” of Nato airspace inCopenhagen on 22 September, but did not indicate a source for the information.

Around 20,000 passengers were affected by the airport’sclosure.

• Aalborg airport in the north of Denmark was temporarily closed after drones were seen in its airspace
• At least three flights were diverted away from Aalborg
• The Danish Armed Forces were affected as the airport is also used as a military base
• Three other smaller airports in the southern region – Esbjerg, Sønderborg and Skrydstrup – also reported drone activity, but were not closed
• North Jutland Police says it is monitoring the situation at Aalborg closely but did not say how many drones were involved
• Police do not believe there is any danger to passengers at the airport, or residents, but have asked the public to keep their distance

There’s plenty we don’t know – but as a reminder, a news conference is due to start in three minutes’ time.

Good morning from London, as we bring you the latest on the unauthoriseddrone activity that caused Denmark to shut down an airport for the second timethis week.

Aalborg airport, in the north of the country, wastemporarily closed when drones were seen in its airspace on Wednesday.

Three other smaller airports in the southern region -Esbjerg, Sønderborg and Skrydstrup – also reported drone activity, but were notclosed.

Danish Minister of Defence Troels Lund Poulsen and Ministerof Justice Peter Hummelgaard areexpected to give an update from 09:00 local time (08:00 BST) – you can watch live on the top of the page.

Also joining them will be Chief of Defence Michael Hyldgaardand National Police Chief Thorkild Fogde.

Stick with us as we bring you the latest.