If you missed the backstory to this one, start here. The short version is that two drones were found at Leipzig airport in Germany. Both failed to detonate but both had bombs including Semtex, a plastic explosive not widely available to minor league terrorists.
That was three weeks ago and this week there have been some new developments in the story, starting with the discovery of a third drone.
German investigators uncovered a third drone and suspected military explosives thought to be connected to an attempted attack on Leipzig airport, local media have reported.
The drone was discovered in Kabelsketal, just to the west of the airport, along with about 50g (1.8oz) of a suspected military explosive on 14 August, 10 days after the unsuccessful sabotage. Leipzig airport is a cargo and military logistics hub used by Nato and Ukraine’s Antonov Airlines for transporting military supplies.
Everyone suspects that Russia was behind this attempted attack, but so far German Chancellor Merz has been unwilling to say that out loud. This week he did say that the people responsible would be named soon.
German chancellor, Friedrich Merz, said the government would soon provide information about who it believed was behind the drone attacks.
“They will pay for this,” Merz said, stopping short of naming a suspect, before a cabinet meeting in Brandenburg. He added that the government was “working intensively on this together with the security authorities and we will present our findings and comment on them shortly”.
Intelligence sources cited by the broadcasters NDR and WDR and the newspaper Süddeutsche Zeitung said they suspected the involvement of Russian intelligence in the attempted attack. Moscow has denied involvement.
The German government has so far avoided expressing a clear position as to whether it thinks Russia, or an actor close to it, is responsible.
Soon is better than never, but after three weeks why won't Germany just say what everyone clearly believes? Failing to do so just looks weak as some German officials have pointed out.
“It could have been a total disaster, a serious military strike on a German airport,” said Konstantin von Notz, a German member of Parliament and member of the committee overseeing the German security services.
“It is pure accident that the catastrophe did not happen,” said Nico Lange, a political consultant who previously served as chief of staff at Germany’s Defense Ministry. “There would have been a big fireball at least.”...
“It seems very likely that Russia is the perpetrator in the Leipzig case,” said Arndt Freytag von Loringhoven, a former deputy director at Germany’s Federal Intelligence Service, explaining he was basing his view on Russia’s recent behavior patterns, where “Europe-wide there is a massive uptick in hybrid aggression in every sphere.”...
“Of course, it needs to be proven,” Freytag von Loringhoven said. “But if I were to advise the government, I would advise them to say it is likely Russia. They are still reluctant to do that. But I personally think this is a mistake, as it projects weakness.”
Meanwhile, France is also tap-dancing around the obvious.
Céline Berthon, director-general of the DGSI, cited this month's discovery of an explosive device near a Ukrainian cargo plane at Germany's Leipzig Airport. The airport is a key logistics hub for transporting military equipment to Ukraine.
"The discovery of an explosive drone in Leipzig serves as a warning that we must consider the possibility of direct, more violent hostile actions on our national soil," said Berthon at La Ref, a high-profile gathering of business leaders in Paris.
Berthon did not mention Russia in her remarks about Leipzig, but said earlier in her speech that "the hardening of Russia's posture was a major element [of concern]."
But a report at ABC News strongly suggests the Germans already know who is responsible. So what are they waiting for?
An explosive drone found near a Ukrainian cargo aircraft at Leipzig airport in Germany earlier this month bore the hallmarks of devices typically employed by Russia's Military Intelligence Directorate, the GRU, a U.S. intelligence source told ABC News.
The U.S. official, who was briefed on the investigation into the alleged sabotage plot, said the explosives fitted to the drone as well as the structure of the lethal device were "typical" of those used by Russia's GRU.
This U.S. assessment was made in conjunction with German security and intelligence agencies, the source added.
So they know but they still aren't saying. Showing an enemy that you are paralyzed by fear is practically begging for more hybrid warfare attacks to follow. Putin is right to think that whatever he does next will also be downplayed by the same weak-kneed leaders.
If Germany instead responded by naming Russia and announcing another 100 advanced missiles would be heading to Ukraine ASAP, Putin would get the message and think twice about a repeat performance. Hopefully, Chancellor Merz can locate his spine before the next attack.
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