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German prosecutors confirm presence of explosive device on Leipzig drone as anti-extremism, terrorism prosecutors take over investigation
German state prosecutors including units working on extremism and terrorism prevention have taken over the investigation into the Leipzig incident, confirming the presence of an “explosive” device on one of the two drones involved.
They said that “a drone carrying an unknown explosive device” was discovered by an airport employee in the cargo zone, fitting the media describing of a location near a Ukrainian cargo plane. It was dealt with using a bomb disposal robot.
A second “unidentified flying object” collided with a DHL plane, with “minor damage” confirmed upon landing in Hanover, they confirmed.
“There is no danger to life or health of passengers or airport staff. Passenger air traffic is not affected,” they stressed.
They added “no further information can be provided at this matter due to the ongoing investigation.”
Key events
Closing summary
Jakub Krupa
And, on that note, we will be closing the blog for today.
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German state prosecutors including units working on extremism and terrorism prevention have taken over an investigation into a drone carrying explosives that was found at Leipzig airport in vicinity of Ukrainian cargo planes (14:02).
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According to local media, the drone was packed with highly explosive substances, but failed to ignite properly after a detonated broke off the rest of the machine (16:11).
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German interior minister will chair an emergency meeting this evening, bringing together federal and state authorities looking into the incident (15:22, 15:37, 17:04).
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A press briefing with further updates is expected around 7.30pm local time (6.30pm UK).
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The incident sparked calls for investigation into possible links with Russia given its history of attempted sabotage in Europe, denied by Moscow (16:35, 17:22).
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Leipzig serves as a maintenance base for six Ukrainian Antonov cargo planes (16:58) and a large hub for military help for Ukraine (11:02).
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In a separate incident, a DHL transport plane collided with another unidentified object near the same airport, with minor damage to the machine.
In other news,
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At least 17 people were killed and more than 40 injured after another horrific night of Russian attacks on Kyiv, as Ukraine repeated its calls to help protect Ukrainian skies from ballistic missiles (9:46, 17:26).
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Austria and Slovakia set new all-time high temperature records as large parts of central and eastern Europe are gripped by another extreme heatwave (17:18).
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Russia exploits Ukraine’s air defence shortage in deadly attack on Kyiv – The Latest
As reported earlier (9:46), at least 17 people were killed and more than 40 injured in another round of deadly Russian strikes on the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy has pleaded for more air defence weapons, saying ballistic missile interceptors “could have saved the lives of those killed today”.
For months, Ukraine has been warning about shortages after Donald Trump backtracked on his promise to let Ukraine manufacture missiles locally.
And in response to the attack, the EU’s Ursula von der Leyen said “Russia must pay” (10:36) – but will it?
Lucy Hough talks to the Guardian’s Russia affairs correspondent, Pjotr Sauer.
‘Who else could it have been besides Russia?’, Ukraine’s ambassador to Germany asks
Ukraine’s ambassador to Germany, Oleksii Makeiev, suggested Russia was behind the drone incident at Leipzig airport overnight, DPA International reported.
“I hope the German authorities establish the facts. But who else could it have been besides Russia?” he told broadcaster Welt TV.
Austria, Slovakia set new all-time temperature records as heatwave hits central, eastern Europe
In other news, Slovakia has recorded a provisional all-time high temperature record of 41.4C in the village of Kamenica nad Hronom.
Similarly, Austria also set an all-time record for the second day running, with 41.2C reported in the east of the country, GeoSphere Austria said in a statement quoted by AFP.
Meanwhile, Slovenia’s Krsko nuclear plant will reduce output to 80% due to low water levels and high temperatures in the Sava River and will proceed with further cuts if needed, it said in a statement quoted by Reuters.
In a separate statement, Saxony state justice minister Constanze Geiert said “the safety of flight operations and the investigation of this incident are of paramount importance.”
“Leipzig Airport is part of our critical infrastructure. Attacks on this infrastructure must be prosecuted with the full force and severity of the law enforcement authorities,” she said.
‘Very serious security incident,’ Saxony’s interior minister says
Saxony state interior minister Armin Schuster said the events at Leipzig airport constituted “a very serious security incident,” with state and federal authorities working together to establish the facts.
He said he was in constant contact with the federal interior minister, Alexander Dobrindt, who will chair this evening’s emergency meeting on the incident.
Six Antonov cargo plans use Leipzig as maintenance base
There is some useful context from the German news agency DPA on why the Ukrainian Antonov cargo planes are positioned in Leipzig.
This is from DPA International:
“Leipzig/Halle Airport has served as a maintenance base for Ukrainian cargo carrier Antonov since 2006.
Following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the Antonov relocated its fleet to the eastern German airport, where six aircraft are now based. A new maintenance hangar is due to open in 2027.”
Opposition calls for investigation on possible Russian links
Deborah Cole
in Berlin
Konstantin von Notz, the opposition Green party’s spokesperson on intelligence oversight, called for an investigation to be conducted with the utmost urgency and hinted at possible Russian involvement.
“Should it transpire that a state is behind this action, this would constitute not merely terrorism but state terrorism directed against the federal republic of Germany and its citizens,” he told Der Spiegel.
Leipzig drone found near Ukrainian cargo plane carried ‘highly explosive substances’ – media reports
German media NDR, WDR and Süddeutsche Zeitung carried a report saying that the drone found at Leipzig airport was packed with highly explosive substances, with reported traces of PETN and semtex.
This was also separately reported by local newspaper Leipziger Volkszeitung.
Citing an internal investigation memo, the three media outlets reported that the detonator failed to ignite after breaking off from the rest of the drone.
The German interior ministry has now confirmed to the Guardian that German interior minister Dobrindt will be hosting an emergency briefing this evening (15:22), followed by a press conference.
Police investigating drone carrying explosive device at Leipzig airport – in pictures
German interior minister interrupting holidays to chair emergency meeting on Leipzig drone incident – media reports
German interior minister Alexander Dobrindt is reportedly interrupting his holidays in Italy and flying back to Berlin to chair an emergency meeting on the Leipzig airport incident this evening, Bild reported.
The newspaper said that he also briefed the chancellor, Friedrich Merz, on the state of investigation into the incident.
The Saxony region’s interior minister Armin Schuster will also attend the meeting.
German prosecutors confirm presence of explosive device on Leipzig drone as anti-extremism, terrorism prosecutors take over investigation
German state prosecutors including units working on extremism and terrorism prevention have taken over the investigation into the Leipzig incident, confirming the presence of an “explosive” device on one of the two drones involved.
They said that “a drone carrying an unknown explosive device” was discovered by an airport employee in the cargo zone, fitting the media describing of a location near a Ukrainian cargo plane. It was dealt with using a bomb disposal robot.
A second “unidentified flying object” collided with a DHL plane, with “minor damage” confirmed upon landing in Hanover, they confirmed.
“There is no danger to life or health of passengers or airport staff. Passenger air traffic is not affected,” they stressed.
They added “no further information can be provided at this matter due to the ongoing investigation.”
France’s Macron calls out Moscow’s ‘policy of terror’ after deadly attacks on Kyiv
Meanwhile, French president Emmanuel Macron condemned the overnight Russian attacks on Kyiv, calling out Moscow’s “policy of terror,” which he said was “unacceptable.”
“In Kyiv and its region, Russia has once again chosen to target civilians. This policy of terror, carried out with missiles and drones, is unacceptable.
Each new attack reinforces an obvious truth: Russia must pay the price for its aggression and answer for its crimes.
Alongside Ukraine, we will not yield to either fatigue or intimidation. The European Union and its partners will continue to increase the pressure on Russia, including through new sanctions, while strengthening military support for Ukraine so that it can defend itself and protect its population.”
Nato ‘aware’ of Leipzig incident as German authorities ‘continue to investigate’
A Nato official told the Guardian:
“We are aware of the incident, which the German authorities continue to investigate.”
But, also contacted by the Guardian, most German authorities still point to their holding statements from earlier, so it may be a while before we get any more details.
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