Leipzig drone attack: Two suspects identified, Russia held responsible
Following the drone attack on Leipzig/Halle airport on 4 August, two suspects have been identified according to media reports.
Investigators identify two suspects after drone attack on Leipzig airport
Following the drone attack on Leipzig/Halle airport on 4 August, investigators have identified two suspects. According to BILD, citing reports from Süddeutsche Zeitung, NDR and WDR, one is a native Russian with a Latvian passport and the other is a man from Belarus with a Russian passport.
In the case of the Belarusian, investigators are said to have secured DNA traces. According to the reports, his travel movements could be largely reconstructed: he is said to have entered the Schengen area with an Italian visa.
The second suspect is attributed a key role in preparing the attack. According to reports, he travelled to Germany via Berlin airport BER at the end of July, subsequently drove on to Saxony and left the country just two days before the failed attack. According to ARD's findings, he is said to have connections to a Russian intelligence service.
According to BILD's information, investigators are searching for a total of at least four people involved, from whom the authorities have either secured DNA traces or tracked their mobile phones via radio cells.
Federal Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt (CSU) directly holds Russia responsible for the attack. On Tuesday, he stated in Berlin: "Taken together, police investigations, modus operandi and intelligence findings demonstrate Russian responsibility for the attempted attack at Leipzig airport." Together with Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul (CDU), he emphasised: "We do not view Leipzig as a single event, but see it in conjunction with further hybrid operations." Dobrindt did, however, make clear: "We are not at war."
As an initial response, the Federal Government is closing the Russian House and the Russian Consulate General. Furthermore, pressure is to be increased on the Russian "shadow fleet" of tankers circumventing Western sanctions.
Moscow responded in turn: the Russian Foreign Ministry summoned German Chargé d'Affaires Bernd Finke on Wednesday midday – according to its own account in response to "anti-Russian actions and statements by German authorities." The ministry published a video on Telegram that is said to show Finke upon his arrival.
Source: BILD