German police on the 5th discovered and took control of a drone near a Ukrainian transport aircraft at Leipzig Airport in eastern Germany. The drone was equipped with explosives fitted with a detonator.
According to reports from security sources quoted by DPA, the incident drone was found during the early hours of the 5th near an Antonov An-124 Ukrainian transport aircraft parked at Leipzig Airport.
Authorities stated that police subsequently used a robot to remove the detonation device, and at present, there is no imminent danger from this security incident.
Leipzig Airport temporarily suspended flights, and parts of the airport remain closed. The airport is an important logistics hub for NATO as well as a critical center for delivering military and civilian equipment to Ukraine.
Meanwhile, German investigators told the media that the Leipzig incident consisted of two phases, as a second unidentified flying object reportedly struck a cargo plane after it took off again due to a pre-closed runway.
Investigators said: "After the aircraft landed in Hanover, minor damage was found on the fuselage."
Germany Faces New Threats
German Interior Minister Dobrindt stated that the discovery of a drone at Leipzig Airport represents a new dimension of threat, one that may involve foreign powers.
He said: "There is no indication in this incident that it was the action of non-professionals. We are facing a professional hybrid threat, and we will have to continue to confront this threat."