Germany investigates drone carrying ‘explosive device’ near Ukrainian plane at busy cargo airport – Europe live

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German prosecutors confirm presence of explosive device on Leipzig drone as anti-extremism, terrorism prosecutors take over investigation

German state prosecutors including units working on extremism and terrorism prevention have taken over the investigation into the Leipzig incident, confirming the presence of an “explosive” device on one of the two drones involved.

They said that “a drone carrying an unknown explosive device” was discovered by an airport employee in the cargo zone, fitting the media describing of a location near a Ukrainian cargo plane. It was dealt with using a bomb disposal robot.

A second “unidentified flying object” collided with a DHL plane, with “minor damage” confirmed upon landing in Hanover, they confirmed.

“There is no danger to life or health of passengers or airport staff. Passenger air traffic is not affected,” they stressed.

They added “no further information can be provided at this matter due to the ongoing investigation.”

Key events

• 10m ago

  Leipzig drone found near Ukrainian cargo plane carried 'highly explosive substances' - media reports

• 54m ago

  Police investigating drone carrying explosive device at Leipzig airport - in pictures

• 1h ago

  German interior minister interrupting holidays to chair emergency meeting on Leipzig drone incident - media reports

• 2h ago

  German prosecutors confirm presence of explosive device on Leipzig drone as anti-extremism, terrorism prosecutors take over investigation

• 3h ago

  France's Macron calls out Moscow's 'policy of terror' after deadly attacks on Kyiv

• 3h ago

  Nato 'aware' of Leipzig incident as German authorities 'continue to investigate'

• 4h ago

  Nato confirms drone sighting near Ukrainian plane at Leipzig airport after 'security incident'

• 5h ago

  Russia is 'a terrorist state,' Lithuanian minister says after overnight attacks on Kyiv

• 5h ago

  Russian strikes hit warehouses, logistics for large Ukrainian home improvement retail chain

• 5h ago

  German police investigating 'unidentified flying object' disrupting flights in Leipzig

• 6h ago

  EU's von der Leyen condemns 'horrible atrocities' after deadly strikes on Kyiv

• 6h ago

  'Russian strikes take no summer vacation,' Ukraine's foreign minister says

• 7h ago

  Morning opening: Lives that could have been saved

Leipzig drone found near Ukrainian cargo plane carried 'highly explosive substances' - media reports

German media NDR, WDR and Süddeutsche Zeitung carried a report saying that the drone found at Leipzig airport was packed with highly explosive substances, with reported traces of PETN and semtex.

Citing an internal investigation memo, the three media outlets reported that the detonator failed to ignite after breaking off from the rest of the drone.

The German interior ministry has now confirmed to the Guardian that German interior minister Dobrindt will be hosting an emergency briefing this evening (15:22), followed by a press conference.

Police investigating drone carrying explosive device at Leipzig airport - in pictures

German interior minister interrupting holidays to chair emergency meeting on Leipzig drone incident - media reports

German interior minister Alexander Dobrindt is reportedly interrupting his holidays in Italy and flying back to Berlin to chair an emergency meeting on the Leipzig airport incident this evening, Bild reported.

The newspaper said that he also briefed the chancellor, Friedrich Merz, on the state of investigation into the incident.

The Saxony region’s interior minister Armin Schuster will also attend the meeting.

German prosecutors confirm presence of explosive device on Leipzig drone as anti-extremism, terrorism prosecutors take over investigation

German state prosecutors including units working on extremism and terrorism prevention have taken over the investigation into the Leipzig incident, confirming the presence of an “explosive” device on one of the two drones involved.

They said that “a drone carrying an unknown explosive device” was discovered by an airport employee in the cargo zone, fitting the media describing of a location near a Ukrainian cargo plane. It was dealt with using a bomb disposal robot.

A second “unidentified flying object” collided with a DHL plane, with “minor damage” confirmed upon landing in Hanover, they confirmed.

“There is no danger to life or health of passengers or airport staff. Passenger air traffic is not affected,” they stressed.

They added “no further information can be provided at this matter due to the ongoing investigation.”

France's Macron calls out Moscow's 'policy of terror' after deadly attacks on Kyiv

Meanwhile, French president Emmanuel Macron condemned the overnight Russian attacks on Kyiv, calling out Moscow’s “policy of terror,” which he said was “unacceptable.”

“In Kyiv and its region, Russia has once again chosen to target civilians. This policy of terror, carried out with missiles and drones, is unacceptable.

Each new attack reinforces an obvious truth: Russia must pay the price for its aggression and answer for its crimes.

Alongside Ukraine, we will not yield to either fatigue or intimidation. The European Union and its partners will continue to increase the pressure on Russia, including through new sanctions, while strengthening military support for Ukraine so that it can defend itself and protect its population.”

Nato 'aware' of Leipzig incident as German authorities 'continue to investigate'

A Nato official told the Guardian:

“We are aware of the incident, which the German authorities continue to investigate.”

But, also contacted by the Guardian, most German authorities still point to their holding statements from earlier, so it may be a while before we get any more details.

For what it’s worth, DHL Group CEO Tobias Meyer said the German logistics firm was studying ​the overnight incident which also involved an object clashing with one of its planes near Leipzig.

“We’ve ‌got plans for cases ​like this, and ​we’ll try to make sure that the influence on our customers will be as low as possible,” Meyer said during a quarterly results call earlier this morning, Reuters reported.

While the Leipzig incident primarily affected various cargo planes coming into the airport, it also caused some disruptions for passengers as a Marabu Airlines plane coming from Mallorca had to be diverted to Nuremberg.

As we are waiting for more clarity on the incident, the German media are stressing the point (11:02) that Leipzig is a major hub for deliveries for Ukraine, and the drone was reported near a Ukrainian transport plane.

Nato confirms drone sighting near Ukrainian plane at Leipzig airport after 'security incident'

Nato has confirmed to the German press agency DPA that a drone was seen near a Ukrainian aircraft at Germany’s Leipzig/Halle airport, the German press agency DPA reported.

The confirmation comes after flight operations were briefly suspended overnight following a security incident (11:02).

Separately, Bild reported that early tests appeared to confirm the drone was carrying explosive materials that failed to ignite due to a defective detonator.

Russia is 'a terrorist state,' Lithuanian minister says after overnight attacks on Kyiv

Lithuanian foreign minister Kęstutis Budrys called Russia “a terrorist state” when responding to the latest round of attacks on Kyiv.

“At least 17 people were killed and 44 injured. Pure terror. Ukraine needs more air defence – now. Every intercepted missile means lives saved. The only language the Kremlin understands is strength.

The world must increase pressure on Russia and force it to the negotiating table.”

Russian strikes hit warehouses, logistics for large Ukrainian home improvement retail chain

Overnight Russian attacks on Kyiv also struck Epicentr, Ukraine’s largest home improvement and DIY retail chain.

Two key logistics facilities and a factory were destroyed within minutes during the attacks, Reuters reported.

It was too early to assess the full scale of the damage, it said.

“This is a deliberate attack on Ukrainian manufacturing, logistics, jobs and the country’s ability to recover,” Epicentr said in a statement.

Iryna Chechotkina, co-founder of leading online retailer Rozetka, said she watched overnight as the work of her entire life went ⁠up in flames after strikes by three ballistic missiles.

German police investigating 'unidentified flying object' disrupting flights in Leipzig

Overnight, “an unidentified flying object” disrupted operations at Leipzig/Halle airport in Germany, with local media speculating over the severity of the incident.

A brief police statement offered no details on the “object,” but stated that “a bomb disposal robot was deployed as part of the investigation.” The south runway remained closed this morning.

But Süddeutsche Zeitung reported the object may have been“a drone with a detonator,” targeting “a Ukrainian transport plane” at the airport. “Police are not ruling out a deliberate act of sabotage,” it said.

Meanwhile, German tabloid Bild reported that the device containing “an unknown substance” was found “in close proximity to a Ukrainian Antonov cargo plane.”

There is no reported danger to the public.

Separately, a DHL transport plane reportedly collided with another unidentified object near the airport, according to Reuters. It later safely landed in Hanover with “minor damage,” SZ said. There are conflicting reports on the timing of this incident.

SZ noted that Leipzig is considered a key hub for arm deliveries to Ukraine. In 2024, an incendiary device plot due to be sent by air to the UK was discovered at the airport as part of a suspected Russian sabotage plan. Russia has denied any link.

EU's von der Leyen condemns 'horrible atrocities' after deadly strikes on Kyiv

European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen condemned “horrible atrocities” by Russia after another night of attacks on Kyiv, which killed at least 17 people.

“Once again we wake up to the news of horrible atrocities by Russia through its aerial attacks on Ukraine. Russia must pay for the destruction it has caused.”

She said the commission was planning to “use the proceeds from the immobilised Russian assets to make sure it does.”

“We are making a further €1.4bn of them available to Ukraine. This will support Ukraine’s continued resistance against Russia’s illegal war.”

'Russian strikes take no summer vacation,' Ukraine's foreign minister says

Ukraine’s foreign minister Andrii Sybiha responded to the latest overnight attacks on Kyiv, saying that “Russian strikes take no summer vacation.”

“Support for Ukraine and pressure on the aggressor must not pause either. Every interceptor counts,” he said.

Sybiha continued:

“They are life-saving tools, and I urge all partners to expedite all relevant decisions. Russia’s ability to produce these tools of ballistic terror must be disrupted. Additional, tough sanctions are critical and urgent.”

Ukraine shot down 98 of the 115 drones fired by Russia overnight, the country’s air force said. But it was unable to shoot down any of the missiles, preliminary statistics from the air force showed.

Kyiv can intercept the vast majority of drones, but still relies on supplies from allies to counter missiles, AFP noted.

Morning opening: Lives that could have been saved

Jakub Krupa

At least 17 people were killed and more than 40 injured after another horrific night of Russian attacks on Kyiv, with Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelenskyy saying that “ballistic missile interceptors could have saved the lives of those killed today”.

“It is very important for partners to realise that delays in their deliveries or failure to provide anti-ballistic measures lead to such terrible casualties and destruction,” he said on social media.

Kyiv mayor Vitali Klitschko earlier warned that “there may still be people under the rubble”.

Ukraine has for months been warning about its shortages of anti-ballistic measures, urging allies to increase their deliveries after the US president, Donald Trump, backtracked on his promise to let Ukraine manufacture Patriot missiles locally.

“Partners who are not yet ready to play a more active role in supplying interceptors can help by implementing new sanctions. A significant share of Russia’s ballistic missile production is still not under sanctions. Even now. New steps are needed – from the G7, the European Union, and everyone who supports the protection of life,” Zelenskyy said.

I will keep an eye on this for you.

Elsewhere, large parts of Europe will face another day of extreme temperatures after multiple records were broken in central and eastern part of the continent yesterday.

The Czech city of Plzeň reported the all-time high of 41.5C yesterday, with the Slovak capital of Bratislava recording an August high of 40.8C.

Austria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Serbia, Slovakia and Slovenia will all see temperatures in high 30s and possibly into low 40s today, with the extreme temperatures worsening the already tricky drought and energy crunch situation.

I will bring you all the latest news from across the continent here.

It’s Wednesday, 5 August 2026, it’s Jakub Krupa here, and this is Europe Live.

Good morning.