Sprengstoff-Drohne in Leipzig: Innenministerkonferenz betont Zeitdruck bei Drohnen-Abwehr

In response to a discovered explosive drone in Leipzig, the Interior Ministers of the federal government and the states are accelerating efforts to develop capabilities for combatting potentially dangerous drones. Saxony's Interior Minister Armin Schuster (CDU) emphasized during a phone conference with the heads of the state departments and Federal Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt (CSU) that mutual assistance, joint research, and procurement are essential.

He highlighted the Bund's priority and leading role in equipping Leipzig/Halle Airport with drone defense technology and detection systems, given its central importance as one of Europe's largest cargo airports. The drone, modified and armed with explosives, was discovered on the airport grounds on Tuesday evening, operated in a manner that evaded standard systems.

Law enforcement classified the incident as highly serious, labeling it a "serious attack on Germany's transport and logistics infrastructure." However, not all airports, including Hannover, are prioritized in the federal government's drone defense plan, according to Lower Saxony's Interior Minister Daniela Behrens (SPD). Behrens called for a special Interior Ministers' conference to address the gaps and stressed the need for faster progress in this area.

The incident in Leipzig underscores the urgency for improvement, and Behrens aims to have the federal system for Hannover's airport upgraded as well. The Bund and the states are expected to prepare for similar threats and enhance their drone defense capabilities.