NATO warplanes scrambled and airspace closed as thousands told to 'find safe place'

NATO warplanes scrambled and airspace closed as thousands told to 'find safe place' Airspace has been closed over part of Europe following a suspected drone sighting as Vladimir Putin appears to be continuing to test defences NATO fighter jets have been scrambled following a suspected drone sighting in Lithuania with thousands of residents urged to find shelter. Airspace has been closed over the Baltic state's capital Vilnius and a mobile phone alert has been sent to residents, telling them to find a safe place, according to local reports. It comes as Vladimir Putin continues to test NATO defences and the suspected drone was detected entering Lithuania's airspace from key Russian-ally Belarus, with which the country shares a south and eastern border. A senior official said fighter jets are investigating the sighting of the object which has not been "fully identified". Vilmantas Vitkauskas, head of Lithuania's National Crisis Management Centre, said it resembles a drone on radar but did not rule out that it could be less sinister including a flock of birds. Last month, an Italian figher jet stationed in the country was scrambled after a possible drone sighting which turned out to be birds. Mr Vitkauskas said authorities received reports from residents of a "possible object outside the territory of Vilnius, moving towards Jonava". "But we cannot confirm this, because these are reports from residents," he told public service broadcaster LRT RADIO. NATO countries in the Baltic have faced repeated drone incursions since Russia began its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. The number of incidents have risen in recent months as countries along NATO's eastern flank warn of an increasing threat from Moscow. A drone that entered Lithuanian airspace was shot down by NATO fighter jets last month for the first time. Authorities didn’t comment on the drone’s origin or purpose, saying further investigation was needed after the incident on Septermber 15, but two senior officials said the device was likely carrying explosives. Officials in other NATO countries, including the UK, Germany, Denmark and Poland, have in recent weeks accused Russia of involvement in acts such as drone incursions, sabotage, arson and surveillance of defence facilities and in plans to use a drone carrying explosives to attack an airport. Meanwhile Denmark said the same day as the Lithuanian drone was shot down, that one of its air force helicopters was fired on with flares as it was carrying out surveillance of a Russian frigate in the Baltic Sea. Strikes close to NATO territory showed Putin’s “desperation and also his desire to sow fear and terror,” NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte said in response. Rutte has pledged to bolster the 32-nation alliance’s own defences along its long eastern border with Russia and its ally Belarus,