Germany blames Russia for drone attack at Leipzig airport

Germany has accused Russia of trying to attack Leipzig airport with a drone. This airport is an important hub in the region.

On Tuesday, Germany’s Interior Minister, Alexander Dobrindt, said Russia was behind the drone incident last month at the airport. This information came from Al Jazeera.

He explained that Russia used a drone filled with explosives to target this key airport. He mentioned that this follows a known pattern of “Russian hybrid operations.”

“Taken together, police investigations, patterns of the offences and intelligence findings establish Russian responsibility for the attempted attack,” he stated.

On 4 August, police found a drone at the airport next to Ukrainian Antonov An-124 cargo planes. Tagesschau, a German news outlet, reported that an airport worker discovered the drone with the explosive device on the “South Runway.”

Specialists from the German Federal Police later defused the explosive device by removing the detonator from the drone.

Mr Dobrindt pointed out that the investigation into the equipment used and intelligence findings confirmed Russian involvement in the attack.

Germany's Foreign Minister, Johann Wadephul, also announced plans to shut down the Russian consulate in Bonn. He said they would also cancel the contract for the Russian House in Berlin.

Germany suspects that the consulate in Berlin is being used for spying and spreading Russian propaganda. Germany is one of the main EU countries supporting Ukraine in the ongoing war with Russia, which started after Russia invaded Ukraine on 24 February 2022.

Two more drones believed to be linked to the suspected Russian operation were found later. One of these drones crashed into a DHL cargo plane. A third drone was discovered near the airport on 14 August.

Mr Wadephul mentioned that the government will tighten entry controls for Russian nationals. He promised to increase pressure on Moscow’s shadow fleet, which refers to old tankers used by Russia to bypass Western sanctions after its invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

He also said he had called in Russia’s ambassador to Germany, Sergei Nechayev, to discuss the situation.

In response, Russia has promised to react to Germany’s actions in a “mirror-image” way.

Maria Zakharova, the spokesperson for the Russian foreign ministry, accused Berlin of “sponsoring terrorism.”

Mark Rutte, the head of NATO, posted on X that the organization “stands in full solidarity with Germany.”

“The evidence is clear. And I welcome the measures announced by Germany in response.”