Investigators believe an explosives-laden drone was deliberately targeting a Ukrainian cargo aircraft at Leipzig/Halle airport in early August. The German government said on Tuesday that it held Russia "responsible."
https://p.dw.com/p/5JjRNForeign Minister Wadephul (left) and Interior Minister Dobrindt (right) have officially blamed Russia for an attempted drone attackImage: Kay Nietfeld/dpa/picture allianceAdvertisementThe German government on Tuesday said Russia was "responsible" for an attempted drone attack at the Leipzig/Halle Airport on August 4.
"The federal government concludes that Russia is responsible for the hybrid attack in Leipzig," said Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt at a press conference in Berlin on Tuesday afternoon, adding that the attack fitted the pattern of a "long series of destabilization operations" against Europe.
"The means used — such as the drone configuration, components, explosives and detonation systems — are known to us from other hybrid operations by Russia and its war against Ukraine," added Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul.
Authorities discovered a drone fitted with explosives and a detonation mechanism on the evening of August 4 in the security area of Leipzig/Halle Airport between Ukrainian cargo aircraft and believe a second drone may have collided with a DHL aircraft nearby.
Last week, German media reported a third drone, also loaded with explosives, had also been discovered at the airport.
German federal prosecutors described the incident as a "serious attack on Germany's transport and logistics infrastructure."
"Taken together, police investigations, patterns of the crime and intelligence findings substantiate Russian responsibility for the attempted attack at Leipzig Airport," said Dobrindt.
"We do not view Leipzig as an isolated incident, but rather see it in the context of other hybrid actions. We assume that Germany will be the target of further hybrid attacks by Russia," he continued.
Interior Minister Dobrindt insisted that Germany is "not at war" but that it is "a daily target of hybrid warfare." Therefore, he said, Germany would respond to the hybrid attack in Leipzig in a "proportionate and measured, yet resolute manner."
Foreign Minister Wadephul said Germany's response would be coordinated closely with European Union and NATO partners.
In addition to a strengthening of internal security, he also announced additional measures including the closure of the Russian consulate in the western city of Bonn from September 18 and the rescinding of a contract enabling the operation of the "Russian House," a Russian cultural center in Berlin.
"Our message to the Russian leadership is clear," said Wadephul. "We are sticking to our security course. The attack on Leipzig shows that this is necessary. We will not allow our social cohesion to be divided by Russian attacks. We remain ready to react along with our partners when the protection of our population demands it."
Finally, he said that Germany would continue to support Ukraine in its "defensive battle against Russian aggression."
The European Union's foreign affairs chief Kaja Kallas said earlier on Tuesday that it was "clear" that Russia was involved in the drone incident, but declined to comment further until Germany had identified those it believes were responsible,
Kallas said Russia was becoming increasingly provocative, raising the question of what could be done to deter Moscow from escalating tensions any further.
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