Police scour airport grounds as drone investigation continues

A large contingent of police officers searched the grounds of an eastern German airport on Friday following two drone incidents earlier this week, including the discovery one carrying an explosive device.

Officers combed the area along the northern runway at Leipzig/Halle Airport on foot, moving in a line, a dpa reporter at the scene observed. Authorities have not said precisely what they are searching for.

The northern runway has been closed since 10 am (0800 GMT) to allow the search to take place, an airport spokesman said. Passenger flights are not affected.

The area was already searched on Thursday. On that occasion, law enforcement authorities said they were trying to locate a second, as yet unidentified, flying object involved in the incidents.

The developments have also prompted action at the highest levels of the German government, with the National Security Council discussing the incidents on Friday, government spokesman Stefan Kornelius said.

The council met by phone, with Chancellor Friedrich Merz leading the call. Kornelius said Merz was in frequent contact with Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt and other members of the government.

The investigation was launched after a drone carrying an explosive device was found on the airport's southern runway late on Tuesday.

According to security sources, the drone was discovered near a Ukrainian Antonov An-124 cargo aircraft. Federal police specialists subsequently defused the explosive device.

A short time later, a second unidentified flying object collided with a DHL cargo aircraft that had been unable to land due to the runway closure and was forced to abort its landing. The object has yet to be found.

The DHL aircraft was diverted to Hanover, where minor damage was discovered.

Investigations are still at an early stage, but Dobrindt has not ruled out the involvement of "foreign powers" and has warned that the incident could have been part of a "hybrid attack scenario."

The Federal Public Prosecutor's Office has taken over the investigation due to the significance of the case. Federal prosecutors said they were investigating suspected attempted use of explosives and endangering air traffic.

Germany's National Security Council was established last year with the aim of coordinating the federal government's responsibilities for domestic and external security.