Greece scrambles to explain how explosive-packed drone landed in its waters

Authorities in Greece have intensified investigations into how an explosive-packed drone ended up in waters off the west of the country. An inquiry, involving specialised military teams, broadened at the weekend after bomb disposal experts detonated the unmanned device at sea. The Greek defence minister, Nikos Dendias, said the drone, suspected to be of Ukrainian origin, almost certainly came from “a foreign state” although he stopped short of identifying the country. “We know what it is, and we more or less know what it contains,” he said, while also attempting to allay fears that Greece lacked the military capabilities to defend itself against such emerging technology. “We have nothing to envy, we are creating the possibilities so that our homeland can equip its combat navy with the most developed drones and anti-drone systems that currently exist.” It is believed the drone landed close to the shores of Lefkada, a popular resort island in the Ionian, when its operators lost control and the device drifted off course. It was found by a fisher in a cave last Thursday. Alarm over its discovery deepened on Saturday after it was reported that the long-range kamikaze drone was laden with an estimated 100kg of explosives. Greek defence ministry officials refused to confirm it was loaded with munitions. …