Possible explosives found near crashed drone by German military air base
German investigators are examining a crashed drone and suspected explosives found near a key Bundeswehr air base, including whether the case may be linked to an attempted drone attack at Leipzig/Halle Airport that Germany has attributed to Russia.
TGerman investigators are examining a crashed drone and suspected explosives found near Wunstorf Air Base in Lower Saxony, a key logistics hub for the Bundeswehr.
A farmer discovered the drone broken into several pieces near the military airfield about a week ago, Süddeutsche Zeitung, NDR and WDR reported.
Several days later, investigators found suspicious material just a few meters from where the drone had been discovered. Security officials currently believe the substance may be explosives, although forensic analysis has not yet been completed.
Germany’s Federal Prosecutor General and Federal Criminal Police Office are examining the case, including whether it could be connected to an attempted attack involving explosive-laden drones at Leipzig/Halle Airport.
Investigators found that the Wunstorf drone was constructed similarly to drones used in the Leipzig incident, according to the outlets. At least one of its components was made using a 3D printer.
Investigators also believe the drone may have been lying near the Wunstorf base for a considerable period of time — possibly as long as two years.
The discovery was discussed at a weekly meeting of the heads of Germany’s security agencies at the Chancellery.
Wunstorf is home to the Bundeswehr’s A400M transport fleet and serves as a major hub for supplying German forces with personnel and equipment around the world.
Leipzig connection
The German government has attributed the attempted attack at Leipzig/Halle Airport to Russia.
German investigators are focusing on two suspects in that case, according to SZ, NDR and WDR. One, identified as Oleg L., is a Latvian national who also holds a Russian passport and is suspected of having acted as a logistics operative.
The outlets reported that he has maintained contacts for years with Russia’s GRU military intelligence, including with Col. Denis Smolyaninov, whom Western security agencies have linked to sabotage operations targeting countries supporting Ukraine.
The second suspect, identified as Andrei K., holds Belarusian and Russian citizenship. His DNA was found at the Leipzig scene, according to the report.
Moscow has denied involvement in the attempted Leipzig attack.