German officials say hybrid attackers behind drone incidents at Leipzig/Halle Airport will be held accountable
Police uncovered a third explosive drone near Leipzig/Halle Airport, prompting Chancellor Friedrich Merz to warn that those responsible for hybrid attacks on Germany will face consequences.
Chancellor Friedrich Merz warned on Tuesday that individuals or groups behind hybrid attacks on Germany, including the recent drone incidents at Leipzig/Halle Airport, "will pay for them," without identifying a specific perpetrator. The statement came as investigators reported the discovery of a third drone and a suspected amount of military-grade explosive hexogen near the airport.
The latest drone was found west of the airfield on 14 August, ten days after an initial attempt on 5 August that forced the diversion of several flights. Police used a bomb-disposal robot to neutralise the device, which was located near a Ukrainian cargo plane operated by Antonov Airlines. Authorities also recovered about 50 grams of the suspected explosive and, in a separate location in Kursdorf, found an antenna and electronic components taped to a tree that may have been used to control the drone.
During the first incident, a cargo aircraft aborted its landing and later collided with an unknown object before landing safely elsewhere. A NATO spokesperson confirmed that a drone equipped with explosives and a detonator had been found near the Antonov plane, and the Kyiv Independent reported that the object was destroyed in a controlled explosion.
Police spokesperson Olaf Hoppe told Euronews that an unidentified object was also examined near the southern runway, confirming it was a drone after X-ray analysis. The airport, which handles military cargo for Germany and NATO allies and serves as a base for Ukraine's Antonov Airlines, temporarily halted flights after the security-related incident.
Germany has reported a series of drone sightings over sensitive sites, and officials have repeatedly suggested Russian involvement in such sabotage campaigns, though Moscow denies any role. Recent related incidents include a parcel fire at the same airport in July, a conviction of a Chinese national for espionage, and drone-related disruptions at other German airports.