Police probe fence breach at Leipzig airport in Germany

A damaged fence, caused by a vehicle breaching the barrier, triggered a police operation overnight at Leipzig airport in eastern Germany, just over two months after a drone rigged with explosives was found there. 

Police confirmed on Sunday that a vehicle had broken through the fence, but did not release details on the vehicle or its owner, saying only that a comprehensive investigation is underway. It remains unclear if the fence breach was accidental due to an accident or on purpose.

The damage was discovered shortly before 11 pm (2100 GMT) on Saturday night, police said, describing it as "a security-relevant incident." 

When officers searched the airport grounds, they found neither the suspected vehicle nor unauthorized people or suspicious objects. The search for the vehicle is ongoing. For the rest of Sunday, police have announced further search operations with additional officers.

Airport points to security standards

The damaged fence section is on a publicly accessible road, according to airport spokesman Uwe Schuhart. An emergency access point for external services such as the fire brigade is also located there. Such access points are used during large airport exercises. The fence was damaged, not the emergency gate, Schuhart said.

There is no camera with video recording at the affected fence section, Schuhart said. There is only one camera there for the airport's operational use, which does not store footage.

Requirements for a fence at a commercial airport are regulated by law. The fence meets national and international standards and is regularly checked by authorities, Schuhart said.

Because of the police operation, the north runway was closed. Passenger and cargo traffic nevertheless continued without restrictions because a second runway is available, the airport said.

Russian Antonovs not in immediate vicinity

Three Russian Antonov cargo aircraft have been parked at the airport since 2022 because of EU sanctions placed on Russia. They are not allowed to take off. The damaged fence section and the planes are both in the northern area, but not directly next to each other, Schuhart said.

Ukrainian Antonov cargo aircraft also based at Leipzig airport are, by contrast, in the southern area and therefore much farther away. According to Schuhart, up to six of these aircraft are stationed in Leipzig. 

The Ukrainian airline Antonov Airlines moved its base there after the Russian attack on Ukraine because flight operations from Ukrainian airports were no longer possible.

The airport is located halfway between Leipzig in Saxony and the neighbouring city of Halle, across the state border in Saxony-Anhalt. It is officially known as Leipzig/Halle Airport.

Link to drone find unclear

It remains unclear whether the current incident is linked to the drone found in early August. At the time, a drone rigged with explosives was discovered at the airport next to Ukrainian cargo aircraft. 

The German government held Russia responsible for the attempted attack, while Moscow rejected the allegations.