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German investigators find third drone, explosives after failed airport attack, media say

By Thomson Reuters Aug 25, 2026 | 12:28 AM

BERLIN, Aug 25 (Reuters) – German investigators discovered a third drone and suspected explosives linked to this ​month’s attempted attack on the ‌Leipzig/Halle airport, broadcasters NDR and WDR and the Sueddeutsche Zeitung newspaper said on Tuesday.

The drone was found on August 14, ‌10 ​days after the ⁠incident, to the west ⁠of the airport, where investigators also discovered about 50 grams (1.8 oz) of a substance they suspected to ​be the military explosive hexogen, the media reports said.

The office ⁠of the prosecutor general ⁠did not immediately respond ​to a Reuters request for comment. Security ​sources cited in the reports suspect ‌Russian intelligence involvement in the attempted attack, an accusation Moscow has denied.

On August 4, an explosives-laden drone ⁠was discovered near a Ukrainian Antonov cargo aircraft used for military supplies. Investigators also ⁠suspect ‌a second drone may ⁠have collided with a DHL ​cargo ‌plane soon after the ​airport’s temporary ⁠shutdown.

The airport is a cargo and military logistics hub used by NATO and Ukraine’s Antonov Airlines for military supplies.

(Writing by Friederike Heine; Editing by ​Clarence Fernandez)