Leipzig airport drone incident called 'hybrid attack' by German interior minister

A drone sighting at Leipzig/Halle airport has been described as a "hybrid attack scenario" by Germany's interior minister, Alexander Dobrindt.

In the early hours of August 5, two unidentified objects were spotted at the airport — one in the air and one on the ground. Operations were restricted. German outlet Bild reported the drone had a package with a detonator attached and was found near a Ukrainian Antonov aircraft. Police secured the plane. An airport employee later intercepted the drone, with security services arriving 11 minutes later. Dobrindt did not name who might be behind the device.

The incident comes amid wider European concerns. Polish foreign minister Radoslaw Sikorski, speaking in Britain, displayed a drone shot down in Ukraine and warned against rejecting "drone walls" on Europe's eastern flank. Denmark's PM Mette Frederiksen also urged Danes to prepare for more hybrid attacks, after a drone entered Danish airspace for the third time in a week.

Dmitry Medvedev, deputy head of Russia's Security Council, suggested Ukrainian provocation as a possible cause, saying such activity could be aimed at securing arms supplies and provoking war. He also ridiculed European supporters of Ukraine, but acknowledged other explanations were possible.