Drone carrying explosives found at German airport, police say

Police in Germany have discovered a drone carrying an explosive device at Leipzig/Halle Airport. The incident occurred overnight, prompting the deployment of a robot to examine the situation in the cargo operation area. A second unidentified object collided with a cargo aircraft, causing minor damage upon its landing at Hanover.

In recent months, there have been multiple unauthorized drone flights over sensitive locations in Germany, including military bases, airports, energy terminals, seaports, and logistics companies. Federal police have raised concerns that these overflights might have been orchestrated by Russian agents. An examination of the device found at Leipzig Airport, assisted by the Federal Police, revealed an explosive device.

The Federal Police's Explosive Ordnance Disposal unit removed the detonator from the device. Flights on the northern runway resumed early on Wednesday, while the southern runway, a key hub for logistics firm DHL, remains closed. Saxony's Interior Minister Armin Schuster has labeled this an "extremely serious security incident." In July, a parcel set ablaze at Leipzig Airport, raising suspicions of possible Moscow-linked sabotage.

Prior to that, a Chinese woman was convicted for providing flight schedules and cargo movements information to a Beijing spy last year.