Germany: Leipzig explosive drone 'new level of danger' — Minister
Skip next section Interior Minister says armed drone is 'new threat scenario' 08/05/2026 August 5, 2026 Interior Minister says armed drone is 'new threat scenario'
Skip next section Interior Minister says armed drone is 'new threat scenario' 08/05/2026 August 5, 2026 Interior Minister says armed drone is 'new threat scenario' Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt told reporters that finding an armed drone at a German airport was a new threat situation. "Drone sightings, drone threats including in a hybrid context, are something we know from the past," Dobrindt said.
"That a drone armed with explosives is at an airport is a new threat scenario," he added. "All the speculation that is currently going on about the explosives, the construction, the question of the drone, the origin and, of course, who is behind it, is now part of the investigation," Dobrindt said. The interior minister said "it would be short-sighted to believe that this form of threat, which objectively exists, can be combated or countered with simple measures.
"We are dealing with a competition here which may also include foreign powers. This will be part of the investigations," he added. In June, Dobrindt created a so-called Joint Center for Countering Hybrid Threats, as Germany has been on high alert for espionage, sabotage and disinformation, particularly from Russia. "What is happening now also shows that the assessment made months ago — that we are dealing with a high level of danger — was justified," Dobrindt added.
On Wednesday, German authorities opened a counterterrorism investigation into the incident.
The BriefWire