Germany Nears Breakthrough in Leipzig Drone Attack

The German government will soon reveal who it believes was behind an attempted drone attack on Leipzig/Halle Airport in early August, Chancellor Friedrich Merz said on Tuesday at a coalition summit.

Security sources cited by German media suspect Russian intelligence services were involved, although Berlin has yet to publicly accuse anyone. Moscow denies any involvement.

On 4 August, a drone carrying explosives was discovered near a Ukrainian Antonov cargo plane used to transport military supplies. Investigators suspect a second drone crashed into a DHL cargo plane shortly after the airport was temporarily closed.

Ten days later, investigators found a third drone west of the airport, along with approximately 50 grams of a substance that media reports identified as the military explosive hexogen.

Leipzig/Halle Airport is a major hub for cargo and military logistics. Both NATO and Ukrainian carrier Antonov Airlines use the airport to transport military supplies.

(Reuters, bak)