Attempted drone attack at German airport blamed on Russia

Germany has blamed Russia for an attempted attack using an explosive-laden drone at Leipzig airport last month.Local authorities found the drone near a Ukrainian plane at the airport on 4 August, and defused it after closing both runways. Ukraine war latest: Putin 'favours secret mobilisation' Image: (L-R) Foreign minister Johann Wadephul and interior minister Alexander Dobrindt. Pic: AP German interior minister Alexander Dobrindt said on Tuesday that the attempted attack fitted a "broader pattern of Russian hybrid operations in Europe".He said the German government "comes to the conclusion that Russia is responsible for the hybrid attack in Leipzig". He added that "we assume that Germany is ⁠the target ​of further hybrid attacks ​by Russia".Mr Dobrindt said the device pointed to "a high degree of technical expertise", but the execution of the plan appears to have been left to "low-level" agents who "acted on behalf of Russian state entities", though he did not specify which ones. Foreign minister Johann Wadephul said the Russian consulate in Bonn will be closed on 18 September and Germany will end its agreement with ​the Russian House cultural centre in ​Berlin.Mr Wadephul also sa...