Germany Nears Decision on Suspected Drone Bombing at Leipzig Airport

Germany is expected to announce soon who it believes was behind a suspected drone attack at Leipzig/Halle airport and how it plans to respond, according to reporting by The Guardian. The incident took place on 4 August, when a drone carrying explosives was found near a Ukrainian Antonov cargo aircraft used to transport military supplies. Investigators believe the drone may have been intended to land on the aircraft’s wings. The plane was carrying kerosene, but the explosive device did not detonate, according to a report cited by The Guardian. A second drone was discovered about 20 minutes later and may have collided with a DHL cargo aircraft. That plane aborted its landing and was diverted. Several days afterward, a third drone was found in a field in a municipality directly bordering the western side of the airport. Forensic technicians from Germany’s Federal Criminal Police Office found traces of a substance that initial assessments indicated could be hexogen, a highly explosive material. That device also failed to explode. A report cited in the article said investigators believed the perpetrators may have planned an attack larger than the public had previously understood. The German government has not officially named a suspect. However, The Guardian reported that speculation has widely focused on possible Russian coordination, while Moscow has denied involvement. Reports by Die Welt and Politico, cited by The Guardian, said Germany was expected to blame Russia. Chancellor Friedrich Merz said the investigation was being completed and that the federal government had broadly agreed on a response. He said Germany’s partners would be informed in advance and that any action would be coordinated with the European Union and Nato. Possible measures reported by the cited outlets include a new package of sanctions, stronger action against Russia’s so-called shadow fleet, and the closure of Berlin’s Russian House cultural institution. Russia could respond by closing Germany’s Goethe Institute in Russia, according to those reports. The planned announcement comes as eastern German states prepare for elections in which the populist AfD is expected to perform strongly. The party’s foreign policy spokesperson, Markus Frohnmaier, said Germany faced hybrid threats but called for more information before assigning responsibility.