Germany reveals new details in explosive drone incident near Ukrainian aircraft
Ukraine's Foreign Ministry issues statement on drone incident near Ukrainian aircraft in Germany (photo: Getty Images)
German authorities have released new details about the incident involving an explosive-laden drone found near a Ukrainian aircraft at Leipzig Airport. Investigators are continuing to search for debris from a possible second drone, according to MDR.de and the press service of Ukraine's Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Germany's Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt said that the incident involving an explosive-laden drone at Leipzig Airport represents a "new level of danger" for the country and is being treated as a "hybrid threat scenario."
According to him, work is underway on appropriate counter-drone measures to ensure preparedness for future attacks.
The minister stressed that the drone incident was carried out by "professionals."
According to him, those behind the incident must possess a high level of technical expertise and experience in handling explosives. This argues against an "amateur approach."
"We have seen incidents involving drones and the threats they pose, including in a hybrid context, before. The fact that a drone armed with explosives ended up at an airport is a new scenario," Dobrindt added.
He noted that all speculation currently surrounding the explosives, the design of the drone, the drone itself, its origin, and who was behind it is now part of the investigation.
Meanwhile, Saxony's Interior Minister Armin Schuster said that the search for debris from a possible second drone is continuing at Leipzig Airport.
Comment from Ukraine's Foreign Ministry
Ukraine's Foreign Ministry said that, according to the information it has received, no one was injured in the incident and the Ukrainian company's aircraft were not damaged.
The Saxony Central Office for Combating Extremism at the Dresden Public Prosecutor General's Office and the Police Center for Combating Terrorism and Extremism of the Saxony State Criminal Police Office have taken over the investigation.
Diplomats and consular officials at Ukraine's Embassy in Germany are in contact with German law enforcement authorities and representatives of Antonov and are awaiting further information on the investigation into the circumstances of the incident.
What is known about the incident
During the night of August 5, operations at Leipzig Airport were temporarily suspended after a suspicious object was found near the runway close to a Ukrainian An-124 cargo aircraft.
According to media reports, the object turned out to be a modified drone that may have been carrying explosives. Several flights were diverted to other airports because of the incident.
German investigators are examining possible Russian involvement in the drone incident near the Ukrainian aircraft.
