Third Drone and Explosives Found Near Leipzig
German investigators have uncovered a third drone and suspected military explosives in Kabelsketal near Leipzig Airport.
The discovery marks a widening security probe into an attempted sabotage targeting a Ukrainian cargo aircraft last month. According to local media and intelligence reports, the latest device was discovered on August 14. This was ten days after the initial unsuccessful attack on August 4.
Forensic Recovery at Kabelsketal Field
The third drone was found in a field in Kabelsketal, a municipality bordering the western edge of Leipzig Airport. Regional broadcasters NDR and WDR, alongside the newspaper Süddeutsche Zeitung, reported the find.
Forensic technicians from the Federal Criminal Police Office recovered about 50 grams of a suspected military explosive from the site. Initial assessments indicate the substance could be hexogen, a highly explosive material that failed to detonate.
Investigators stated in their reports that the perpetrators may have planned an attack far larger than initially realized by the public. Additional electronic components, including an antenna attached to a tree, were discovered nearby in Kursdorf. This was close to where witnesses reported hearing a loud bang on the day of the incident.
Targeting Antonov Cargo and DHL Flight
The security breach began on August 4. A drone carrying explosives was discovered near a Ukrainian Antonov cargo plane.
The aircraft, operated by Antonov Airlines and utilized for military logistics used by NATO, was filled with kerosene at the time. Investigators believe the drone was intended to crash into the aircraft’s fuel-laden wings, but its explosive device failed to detonate.
Approximately 20 minutes after the first drone’s discovery, a second drone allegedly collided with a DHL cargo flight. The DHL aircraft was forced to abort its landing maneuver and was subsequently diverted to Hanover.
An inspection of the DHL plane later revealed damage to its tail section, indicating a mid-air impact. Investigators suspect that second drone was sucked into the engines and shredded, explaining why it has not been recovered.
Chancellor Merz Vows Accountability
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz addressed the cabinet in Brandenburg regarding the security breaches. He stated that the government would soon release detailed findings on who is responsible.
“They will pay for this,” Merz said, emphasizing that Germany is increasingly becoming a target for hostile actors who are willing to risk serious property damage, injuries, and deaths.
Intelligence Focus and Moscow Denial
While intelligence sources cited by German media suspect the involvement of Russian intelligence, the federal government has stopped short of officially naming a responsible party. Moscow has denied any involvement in the incident.
The Office of the Prosecutor General is leading the active investigation. It has declined to comment on specific attribution details as forensic analysis of the recovered explosives and electronic components continues.
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