Finland investigates drone found on Gulf shore

Finland is investigating a possible territorial violation after a drone was found washed up on an island shore in the Porvoo archipelago in the Gulf of Finland, authorities said Wednesday.

The drone was found Tuesday in southern Finland, less than a two-hour drive east of Helsinki.

Defence Minister Antti Hakkanen said the Finnish Border Guard and police were investigating the incident. Antti Leskela, the Border Guard officer leading the investigation, said the drone did not pose a risk to the public because it was not carrying explosives.

Leskela said it was too early to assess whether the drone originated from neighbouring Russia. He said it was quite possible the device had drifted to the Finnish shoreline from other parts of the Baltic Sea.

Finland's defence ministry said preliminary information indicated the drone had been used for surveying and mapping. Leskela described it as a fixed-wing unmanned aerial vehicle a few metres in length.

The Border Guard is investigating the aircraft's origin, possible flight path or drift to Finland, and other circumstances.