<.p>Federal prosecutors in Germany have opened an investigation into a suspected explosive drone incident at Leipzig/Halle Airport, where a device equipped with explosives and a detonator was discovered near Ukrainian transport aircraft. According to the Federal Prosecutor’s Office in Karlsruhe, the probe focuses on the suspected attempted causing of an explosive device detonation and a dangerous interference with air traffic following the late Tuesday incident.
Investigation Details and Air Traffic Disruption
The device was found on the airfield late Tuesday evening and subsequently brought down by an airport employee. Shortly after authorities implemented airspace restrictions, a departing flight had to execute a go-around maneuver and collided with an unidentified smaller flying object, which investigators note may have been a second drone. Federal Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt characterized the event as a hybrid attack by foreign powers, though he did not directly assign responsibility to Russia in initial statements.
Political Repercussions and Intelligence Oversight
Marc Henrichmann, chairman of the Bundestag’s parliamentary intelligence oversight committee, dismissed statements from Moscow denying responsibility as lacking credibility. According to statements given to the ZDF “heute journal update,” Henrichmann argued that Russia has long squandered its credibility through its war in Ukraine and operates without rules. He asserted that the conflict has stalled and suggested that Russian actions represent a wider shift toward hybrid probes against Western and NATO infrastructure.
Russian Diplomatic Response and Accusations
The Russian Embassy in Berlin rejected any involvement, describing the incident in a Telegram statement on Friday evening as a provocation orchestrated by Kyiv and European militaristic factions. The diplomatic mission warned against what it termed a new wave of anti-Russian hysteria in Germany. The embassy claimed the alleged hybrid attack is intended to provide Ukraine and European governments with arguments to maintain financial support for Kyiv.
Security and Legal Next Steps
The Federal Prosecutor’s Office continues to examine the physical evidence recovered from the airfield, including the detonator and explosive components found on the first drone. Investigators are analyzing radar data and examining the debris from the flying object struck during the aborted takeoff to determine the origin and operators of the drones involved.