An explosives‑laden drone was found at Leipzig Halle airport on 4 August, poised to detonate near a Ukrainian Antonov 124. Police say the drone carried military‑grade explosives, including Semtex and PET N. The incident has been declared a national‑security matter, drawing the attention of Germany’s top officials.

Chancellor Friedrich Merz convened the national security council, while Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt described the threat as “professional, hybrid.” A massive forensic investigation is underway, with two concrete leads but no arrests yet. German prosecutors and federal police have taken charge, citing the attack’s significance for transport infrastructure.

The event comes amid Russia’s escalating sabotage campaign against European targets. Intelligence suggests Moscow may intensify hybrid attacks as it faces a military impasse in Ukraine, a weaker economy, and damaging Ukrainian strikes on Russian energy sites. Lithuanian defence minister Robertas Kaunas warned of possible false‑flag operations targeting Baltic energy infrastructure.

Leipzig Halle, Europe's fourth‑largest freight hub, handles more than 2mn passengers annually. The drone was discovered late at night near the cargo side. A second drone is suspected to have collided with a cargo plane, which was diverted to Hanover. The malfunction of the detonator averted a potential disaster that could have caused massive loss of life.