Merz: perpetrators of hybrid attacks in Germany will not go unpunished

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said on Tuesday that Germany is increasingly coming into the sights of hybrid attackers, vowing that those responsible will not escape punishment. He made the remarks while addressing this month's incident at Leipzig airport, a hub of significant importance for military transport.

Drones packed with explosives

An unmanned aerial vehicle carrying explosives was found near the airport, close to a Ukrainian cargo plane. Police used a robot to neutralize the explosives. Authorities believe a second drone may have collided with a nearby DHL logistics company aircraft. On Tuesday, media reported still officially unconfirmed information that a third drone, also fitted with explosives, had since been found. German broadcasters NDR and WDR, along with the newspaper Sueddeutsche Zeitung, reported that investigators discovered the third drone on August 14 and later found nearby traces of hexogen, an explosive used for military purposes. The federal prosecutor's office has not commented on this information.

Cautious stance toward Russia

While Germany has long accused Moscow of hybrid attacks, espionage and sabotage campaigns, it has not officially blamed Russia for the Leipzig incident. Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt has only spoken of suspicions that a "foreign power" might be involved.

Promised countermeasures

Merz stressed that perpetrators are increasingly acting without any pangs of conscience, willing to risk serious material damage, injuries or even deaths. He said the government is working with security services to identify those responsible for the Leipzig attack and hopes to provide more detailed information soon. The chancellor pointed to planned measures, including better protection against drones and plans to allow security services to respond to attackers both at home and abroad, including by hacking their computer servers. He also pledged that Germany would continue its firm support for Ukraine against Russia's invasion, stressing the goal is not to prolong the war but to force peace negotiations.