In brief
A drone carrying an explosive device was discovered at Leipzig/Halle Airport overnight, near Ukrainian cargo planes. Police used a robotic system to remove the detonator and conduct a controlled explosion before flight resumed on the northern runway. German authorities warn this is a new level of threat, hinting at foreign involvement and drawing parallels with recent drone incidents across Europe. The incident joins a series of suspicious drone attacks in Germany since the 2022 Ukraine war.
A drone carrying an explosive device has been found at Leipzig/Halle Airport overnight, according to Saxony police.
The device, spotted by an employee near parked Antonov cargo planes, was handled by a robotic system that removed the detonator before a controlled explosion was carried out. Flights on the northern runway resumed at 01:55 local time; the southern runway remains closed.
The discovery comes in the wake of multiple unauthorized drone flights across German military bases, airports and energy sites, raising fears that a professional, hybrid threat may be linked to foreign powers. Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt warned it was 'new level of threat'.
Leipzig/Halle Airport also serves as a key logistics hub for DHL and hosts Ukrainian cargo operations. Russian involvement has been suggested by local officials, though Moscow has denied any role.
This incident follows a series of drone‑related attacks since February 2022, including parcel fires at the same airport that were linked to Ukrainian weapons. Other recent cases include a Chinese woman’s conviction for providing flight data to a Beijing spy and high‑profile suspicious drones over German airspace.
The German police say the investigation continues, with the possibility of foreign "competition" in the ongoing threat. The incident underscores growing concern over the use of drones in European security operations.
A robot was sent to remove the detonator from the device