Berlin, Sep 1 (EFE).- The German government blamed Russia for the hybrid drone attack on Aug. 4, when unmanned aerial vehicles carrying explosives were found at Leipzig Airport, Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt and Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said at a press conference in Berlin.
Wadephul then announced the closure of the Russian consulate in Bonn, western Germany, and added that the contract for the Russian cultural center “Russian House” in Berlin will be terminated.
Furthermore, Germany will strengthen entry controls for Russian citizens and increase pressure on the Russian ghost fleet, the foreign minister stated.
Earlier, Dobrindt had said that investigations into the case are ongoing, but that the German government reached this conclusion regarding Russia’s involvement based on information available to law enforcement and intelligence agencies.
«We do not consider Leipzig an isolated incident, but rather see it in connection with other hybrid actions,» added the interior minister.
According to Dobrindt, «low-level agents» carried out the attempted attack at the airport in Leipzig, where a drone loaded with explosives was found.
Following the discovery on the night of Aug. 4 at Leipzig of a drone equipped with explosives and the alleged collision, shortly thereafter, of a second unmanned aerial vehicle with a DHL cargo plane, investigators discovered a third device and more explosives, days later, as reported last week by the regional public broadcasters WDR and NDR and the newspaper Süddeutsche Zeitung.
After the statement by German officials, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said she had spoken with Chancellor Frederich Merz to discuss the hybrid attack, adding she “assured him that the EU stands in full solidarity with Germany .”
“We will keep the EU united despite these escalating and serious acts. The German government has taken strong measures. And the message is clear: hybrid attacks will not go without a clear response,” she added.
Von der Leyen concluded by stating that “Russia is seeking to sow distrust and fear among our societies,” and that she would discuss the response with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova, in remarks to Interfax news agency, said Moscow would respond to what she called Berlin’s «anti-Russian action.»
She also accused Berlin of instigating Kyiv’s drone attacks against Russian rear areas. EFE
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