Drones spotted over German base days after Leipzig bomb incident
Police are investigating a drone sighting over a miltary base reportedly used for housing Patriot missile system parts.
Two unmanned aerial vehicles (drones) were observed over a military installation in western Germany shortly after an explosive device was discovered at Leipzig airport. The German armed forces, known as Bundeswehr, confirmed the sightings on Thursday evening at a base in Mechernich, near Bonn. This base reportedly houses components for US-made Patriot air-defense systems.
A Bundeswehr spokeswoman stated that military police were dispatched to the location and the situation was then transferred to local law enforcement. This incident is among several recent instances of drones being observed near military bases or airports in European countries supporting Ukraine in its conflict with Russia, a situation that has been subjected to suspicion.
Moscow has consistently denied any involvement in these occurrences. German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt stated in an interview with newspaper Bild that Germany has become a frequent target of destabilizing attacks, describing it as a daily occurrence of hybrid warfare. The German government is currently probing the circumstances surrounding the explosive drone that managed to reach the runway at Leipzig/Halle airport, a NATO and German military-operated airfield serving as a base for Ukraine's Antonov Airlines.
The Bundeswehr declined to comment on the on-going investigation when questioned by the BBC about the suspected origin of the drones spotted above Mechernich. Local police have been notified for further input. Reports suggest that the base has a storage area for equipment and spare parts necessary for the upkeep of Patriot missile batteries.
These air-defense systems have proven vital for Ukraine's ability to counter Russian ballistic missiles since the full-scale invasion began in 2022. However, President Volodymyr Zelensky recently appealed to allies for additional supplies, warning of a depletion of interceptor missiles. Following an initial offer in early July, US President Donald Trump last week denied any agreement for the license production of Patriots in Ukraine.
A series of drone sightings across European airspace last year raised alert levels across the continent, prompting the EU to consider implementing a continental "drone wall" comprised of air defense systems. Some European officials have attributed these drone sightings to Russia, a claim Moscow has repeatedly dismissed as "absurd".
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