German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on Tuesday warned that perpetrators of hybrid attacks targeting Germany “will pay,” as investigators revealed a third drone and suspected military-grade explosives had been found near the strategic Leipzig/Halle Airport.
Speaking at the opening of a two-day cabinet retreat in Neuhardenberg, Merz said Germany had “increasingly found itself in the crosshairs of hybrid attackers.” The perpetrators, he said, were “increasingly acting without scruples” and willing to risk “severe property damage, injuries and fatalities.”
Third drone found on August 14
German broadcasters NDR, WDR and the Sueddeutsche Zeitung reported on Tuesday that investigators discovered a third drone in Kabelsketal, a municipality just west of the airport, on August 14 – ten days after the initial attack. Alongside the device, authorities found approximately 50 grams of a suspected military explosive compound later identified as hexogen, a substance also known as RDX.
The discovery compounds the severity of the original incident on August 4-5, when two drones were spotted near the airport. One was found on the tarmac carrying explosives with a detonator that apparently failed. A second drone struck a Boeing 757 cargo aircraft in mid-air. No injuries were reported but the airport, used by NATO for its Strategic Airlift International Solution mission, was shut down for hours.
NATO hub at center of investigation
Leipzig/Halle Airport is a critical node for NATO military logistics, hosting flights that deliver armaments, ammunition and equipment to the alliance’s easternmost members and to Ukraine. US intelligence officials have pointed to Russia as the likely orchestrator of the attack, according to reports by the Wall Street Journal and CNN. Russia has denied any involvement.
“The government is working with security services on attributing the Leipzig attack,” Merz said, adding that Berlin hoped “to present details and comment on the matter shortly.” The Federal Prosecutor’s Office declined to comment on the investigation.
Countermeasures and response
Since the initial incident, Germany has moved to bolster its defenses. Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt announced a new drone research facility in Cochstedt and plans to hire 150 new agents for the national anti-drone center. Four new bases for the center will also be created. The Federal Police’s anti-drone units are being doubled to approximately 300 personnel.
Merz outlined additional measures including plans to empower security services to strike back against attackers by, for example, hacking their computer servers. “The government was right to initiate a range of measures to better protect our country and its population against hybrid attacks,” the chancellor said.
German investigators found DNA traces on one of the drones from the initial incident, though as of the latest reports the DNA has not been linked to any specific individual. The find has drawn comparisons to a 2024 arson attack at a DHL logistics center at the same airport, which officials later attributed to Russian intelligence.
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