Symbolic imageUS intelligence points to Russia over Leipzig airport drone bomb
US officials believe last week's explosives-laden drone at Leipzig/Halle airport came from Russia, American media report. Berlin speaks of a new level of danger but names no culprit.
The Wall Street Journal quoted US officials as saying the drone probably belongs to the Russian government; CNN reported that Washington concluded it came from a Russian secret service, its explosive pointing to a military manufacturer. The quadcopter, fitted with Semtex, was found beside a Ukrainian cargo plane on the night of Tuesday 4 August, hours after it passed the airport's defences, when a bus driver spotted and reported it. Bild reported that investigators found DNA traces matching those from the DHL parcel firebomb that ignited at Leipzig in July 2024.
Drone unit to grow to 300
Dobrindt will order the federal police to expand its drone-defence unit, in service since December 2025, to 300 officers at eight bases instead of four, the interior ministry said on Monday.
Pressure for new powers
Schleswig-Holstein's premier Daniel Günther told Deutschlandfunk the Basic Law should be changed to allow domestic Bundeswehr deployment against drones. The cabinet is to launch a reform on Wednesday widening the powers of the BND and the domestic intelligence service.
Other opinions
German officials avoid naming Moscow, while US media cite intelligence assessments pointing to a Russian service; according to the Guardian, Moscow denies any sabotage campaign and its Berlin embassy pushed back late last week.