Counter-terrorism investigators are treating an incident at Leipzig/Halle Airport as an attempted attack after a drone carrying a package rigged with explosives was intercepted by an airport bus driver, according to reporting by the German daily newspaper Bild. The security breach, which has drawn the involvement of NATO alongside federal and state authorities, unfolded late at night and involved a second suspected unmanned aerial vehicle near a cargo plane.
Explosive Material and Counter-Terrorism Investigation
The package attached to the intercepted drone reportedly contained Semtex, a high-grade plastic explosive historically used by militaries, intelligence services, and terrorist organizations, according to security sources cited by Bild. German authorities have not yet officially confirmed that the seized payload consisted of Semtex. Investigators initially suspected the drone carried a nitrate-based explosive derived from industrial fertilizers before identifying the material as the Czech-developed plastic explosive.
The Saxon State Criminal Office (LKA) counter-terrorism and defense center took over the case, establishing a special investigative team consisting of approximately one hundred criminal investigators. Saxon Interior Minister Armin Schuster told Bild that the events represent a very serious security incident. State and federal security organs have been cooperating intensively, with involvement from the Joint Centre for Countering Hybrid Threats and the federal police drone defense unit.
Airport Interception and Pyrotechnic Analysis
An airport bus driver spotted the suspicious drone flying low over an area housing Ukrainian cargo planes on Tuesday night at 23:42, according to Bild. The driver managed to bring the drone down and detain it before security forces arrived. Federal police subsequently used X-ray screening to discover a detonator inside the package, noting that the ignition mechanism was damaged. Pyrotechnics experts defused the charge and transported it in a specialized container for further analysis rather than detonating it on-site, preserving forensic evidence.
Approximately twenty minutes later, shortly after midnight, a DHL cargo aircraft collided with an unknown object at an altitude of about 400 meters roughly six kilometers from the airport. Investigators suspect this second object may have been a second drone, as the airport’s counter-drone defense system recorded two unmanned aerial vehicles in the area.
Did you know?
Semtex was developed in Czechoslovakia during the 1960s. Following its use in the 1988 bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland—which killed 259 people on board and 11 on the ground—manufacturers began adding a taggant odor to the explosive to help detection dogs find it.
Frequently Asked Questions
What explosive material was found on the drone at Leipzig/Halle Airport?
According to security sources cited by the daily newspaper Bild, the package contained Semtex. German authorities have not yet officially confirmed this finding.
Who is leading the investigation into the Leipzig airport incident?
The counter-terrorism and defense center of the Saxon State Criminal Office (LKA) has formed a special team of roughly one hundred investigators, working alongside federal authorities and NATO.
How was the first drone discovered?
An airport bus driver noticed the drone flying low near Ukrainian cargo planes at 23:42, brought it to the ground, and detained it until security forces arrived.
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