Germany blames Russia for last month's attempted drone attack at Leipzig airport

BERLIN: The German government on Tuesday (Sep 1) blamed Russia for an attempted attack at Leipzig/Halle Airport last month using a drone laden with explosives, and ordered a series of measures in response, including the closure of a consulate and a Russian cultural centre in Berlin.The drone was found near a Ukrainian plane on the evening of August 4, and the device was defused.Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt said intelligence findings indicated that individuals involved in the attack were acting on behalf of Russian state agencies."Taken together, police investigations, patterns of the offences and intelligence findings establish Russian responsibility for the attempted attack at Leipzig Airport," he said. Standing alongside Dobrindt, Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said Germany did not view Leipzig as an isolated incident."It fits into a broader pattern of Russian hybrid operations in Europe," he said.Wadephul said Germany's response would include closing Russia's consulate general in Bonn and terminating its agreement with the Russian House cultural centre in Berlin. German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt attends a press conference on the day of the opening of a facility for drone security to explore the protection of critical infrastructure at the airfield of Cochstedt, Germany, August 18, 2026. (Photo: REUTERS/Karina Hessland) "GERMANY REMAINS SECURE""Germany remains secure, and Germany will defend itself against adversaries who seek to create insecurity," Wadephul said. "We will not allow Russia's attacks to divide or intimidate us in our social cohesion."Responding to Germany's announcement, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said Moscow would respond to what she called Berlin's "anti-Russian action", according to Interfax news agency. She did not elaborate.The Russian Embassy in Berlin had previously dismissed such accusations as "fabricated provocation" and as "a new wave of anti-Russian hysteria in Germany".EU COUNTRIES EXPRESS SOLIDARITYGermany and Europe more widely face a serious threat from such "hybrid" actions, the interior minister said. "These actions target critical infrastructure, defence companies and support for Ukraine."Germany will also push within the European Union for additional sanctions listings and travel restrictions on Russian nationals, while increasing pressure on Russia's "shadow fleet", Wadephul said.European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said she would discuss the attack on Wednesday with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, and EU foreign ministers would prepare a joint response."Looking forward to discussing collective countermeasures at the Gymnich meeting in Ireland tonight and tomorrow," Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski said on X. "Full solidarity with Germany."Prime Minister Andy Burnham said in a statement that Britain stood with Germany and that any Russian attempts to undermine support for Ukraine were "doomed to fail".Wadephul said Germany would "continue its civilian and military support for Ukraine and will resolutely continue its solidarity with Ukraine in its defence against Russia's war of aggression".