Those behind hybrid attacks against Germany 'will pay,' Merz says, as officials find third drone at airport

Key Points:

• Chancellor Friedrich Merz warned that those responsible for hybrid attacks against Germany, including the recent explosive drone incident at Leipzig/Halle airport, "will pay for them," though he did not name any suspects.
• Investigators discovered a third drone and suspected explosives near Leipzig/Halle airport, including about 50 grams of the military explosive hexogen and a possible drone control device, suggesting a coordinated attack attempt.
• The initial incident on 5 August involved a drone found near a Ukrainian cargo plane, causing flight diversions and a mid-air collision with an unknown object; the drone was confirmed to be equipped with explosives and was destroyed in a controlled explosion.
• Leipzig/Halle airport is a strategic hub for military goods transport and serves as a base for Ukraine's Antonov Airlines, making it a potential target for sabotage amid heightened tensions linked to the Ukraine conflict.
• Germany has seen a rise in drone-related security incidents at sensitive sites, with authorities suspecting Russian involvement in many cases, though Russia denies these claims; similar drone sightings have disrupted operations at other major German airports in recent months.