- Chancellor Friedrich Merz said Germany is "under threat" after explosive drones were found near Leipzig airport, with the latest device reported on Aug. 14.
- Merz said the government is working intensively with security agencies and will present findings shortly, and he told his party in a private meeting that there is "circumstantial evidence pointing to the perpetrators."
- German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt suggested a state actor was behind the threat, saying "Many indications pointing in that direction."
- Merz's government is seeking to give more leeway to Germany's intelligence services to stymie threats from adversaries such as Russia.
Chancellor Friedrich Merz stated that Germany is "under threat" after another explosive drone was discovered near Leipzig airport on August 14, a critical logistics base for NATO. This incident follows an earlier drone found on August 5, which carried an explosive device with a failed detonator.12
Merz emphasized that the drone attacks indicate real threats facing Germany, particularly from hybrid attackers. He noted, "The drone attack in Leipzig, among other things, shows that we are also facing very real threats. Germany has come under increased scrutiny from hybrid attackers."
In response to these threats, German counterterrorism authorities have launched an investigation, and Merz mentioned that the government has "circumstantial evidence pointing to the perpetrators of the crime." He also indicated that the government is working closely with security agencies to address these issues.
Earlier this month, Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt suggested that a state actor might be behind the drone threats, stating, "Many indications pointing in that direction." This comes amid a backdrop of heightened security concerns since Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, which has significantly worsened Germany's security landscape. Proposed reforms may allow Germany's foreign intelligence agency, the BND, to conduct offensive cyber operations to counter these threats.5
Merz's government is advocating for greater powers for intelligence services to effectively combat adversaries like Russia.
“Merz said the government is working intensively with security agencies and will present findings shortly, adding that there is 'circumstantial evidence pointing to the perpetrators.' Interior Minister Dobrindt earlier suggested a state actor was behind the threat, and the government is seeking to give intelligence services more leeway against adversaries like Russia.”
politico.eu
