German authorities say a drone carrying explosives was discovered at Leipzig airport near a Ukrainian aircraft loaded with military ammunition, and are investigating whether a foreign state was behind the plot.
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Key facts
- A drone carrying explosives was found at Leipzig airport, according to German officials.
- One nearby Ukrainian aircraft was loaded with military ammunition, per a classified police report cited by WDR, NDR and Süddeutsche.
- German officials said a 'ripped' detonator stopped the device from going off.
- Authorities are investigating whether a foreign state was involved.
- Officials said a catastrophe with multiple casualties was possibly narrowly averted.
German officials said a possible catastrophe with multiple casualties may have been narrowly averted after a drone carrying explosives was discovered at Leipzig airport, according to reporting by the Guardian.
One of the Ukrainian aircraft next to where the bomb-carrying drone was found had been loaded with military ammunition, according to a classified police report quoted by the public broadcasters WDR and NDR and the Süddeutsche newspaper.
Authorities said the device did not detonate because its detonator was ‘ripped,’ a German minister indicated, according to the Guardian’s account of official statements.
German authorities are examining whether a foreign state could be behind the plot, the Guardian reported, though no specific state has been named in the available sources.
The proximity of the explosive device to an aircraft carrying military ammunition heightened concerns among officials about the potential scale of harm had the device functioned as intended.
At the time of reporting, the investigation was ongoing and German officials had not publicly confirmed responsibility for the drone.
Why it matters
The discovery raises the prospect of a deliberate attack on aviation and military logistics infrastructure on German soil, potentially linked to a foreign state. With a Ukrainian plane carrying ammunition nearby, the incident touches on the security of arms shipments amid the war in Ukraine and could carry significant diplomatic and security implications for Europe.
Frequently asked questions
Where was the explosive drone found?
The drone carrying explosives was found at Leipzig airport in Germany, according to German officials cited by the Guardian.
Why didn't the device explode?
German officials said a 'ripped' detonator stopped the device from going off, according to the Guardian.
Is a foreign state suspected?
German authorities are investigating whether a foreign state could be behind the plot, but no specific state has been named in the available reporting.
Timeline
- Leipzig drone bomb was found near Ukrainian plane carrying ammunition
The Guardian World: German authorities investigating whether a foreign state is involved as they say a ‘ripped’ detonator stopped device going off A catastrophe with multiple casualties was possibly only narrowly averted by the discovery of a drone carrying explosives at Leipzig airport, German offi
- Leipzig drone bomb was found near Ukrainian plane carrying ammunition, say police
The Guardian World: Germany investigating whether foreign state involved as minister says ‘ripped’ detonator stopped device going off Europe live – latest updates A catastrophe with multiple casualties was possibly narrowly averted by the discovery of a drone carrying explosives at Leipzig airport,