Germany blames Russia for last month's attempted drone attack at Leipzig airport

The German government has blamed Russia for an attempted attack at Leipzig/Halle Airport last month using a drone laden with explosivesByGEIR MOULSON Associated PressSeptember 1, 2026, 11:46 AMBERLIN -- The German government on Tuesday blamed Russia for an attempted attack at Leipzig/Halle Airport last month using a drone laden with explosives, and announced that it would shut down a Russian consulate among other measures against Moscow.The drone was found near a Ukrainian plane on the evening of Aug. 4 and the device was defused. German officials said at the time that the incident posed a new level of danger.Moscow has been widely accused by Western officials of running a campaign of sabotage and disruption across Europe with the aim of undermining support for Ukraine and destabilizing European nations.German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt said Tuesday that authorities found elements such as the drone configuration, components, explosives and detonator that are “known to us from other Russian hybrid operations and its war against Ukraine.” He said that the device pointed to “a high degree of technical expertise” and painstaking planning, but that the execution of the plan ap...