Germany: Russia behind bomb drone in Leipzig

 

Joakim Magnå/TT, Grim Berglund/TT

Published 17.44Updated 18.38

           

         German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt. Photo: Ebrahim Noroozi/AP/TT

Russia is responsible for the incident with an explosives-laden drone at Leipzig/Halle airport in August, German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt said at a press conference on Tuesday.

Germany will close the Russian consulate in Bonn and its representation in Berlin in immediate response.

The drone, which was discovered by airport staff on August 4, was equipped with explosives and was near Ukrainian cargo planes. The device was neutralized.

According to Alexander Dobrindt, the incident follows the “pattern of Russian hybrid attacks”.

Cultural center to close

Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul announces at a press conference that the Russian consulate in Bonn will be closed from September 18. He also says that the lease for the Russian House, a cultural center in Berlin, will be terminated.

“We are tightening entry controls for Russian citizens,” says Wadephul.

Germany will also propose that more Russian people be added to the EU sanctions list and promises tougher pressure on Russia’s so-called shadow fleet.

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte has spoken to Chancellor Friedrich Merz about the incident.

“NATO stands in full solidarity with Germany after the Russian hybrid attack,” Rutte wrote in a post on X, continuing:

“Russia’s attempts to intimidate us, to undermine our unity and our willingness to support Ukraine are futile and will fail. Our support for Ukraine is unwavering, as is our unwavering commitment to NATO’s collective defense.”

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on social media that she would speak to Rutte on Wednesday and that further sanctions against Russia would be discussed within the EU.

“We stand united”

Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson (M) wrote on X that he was in close contact with Merz.

“Sweden fully supports the strong measures taken by the German government. We stand united and we will continue to support our ally and neighbor,” Kristersson wrote, adding that he would convene Sweden’s National Security Council on Wednesday.

The Prime Minister states that Russia “wants to scare us”, but that it will “fail”.

Russia has not yet commented on the matter.

Leipzig/Halle Airport is both an internationally important airport and crucial for deliveries of, among other things, military equipment to Ukraine.

NATO’s strategic efforts through, among other things, an air bridge (Salis) operate from Leipzig Airport with basically daily deliveries to NATO groups in the Ukrainian vicinity: from Finland to Romania.