Germany warns of constant hybrid attack threats after drone incident

Investing.com -- Germany is being targeted by foreign hybrid warfare operations every day, Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt said following the discovery of an explosive-laden drone at Leipzig/Halle Airport, Reuters reported on Sunday.

Dobrindt said foreign powers were using espionage, sabotage, cyberattacks and covert operations to spread fear, destabilise German society and cause direct harm.

“We’re not at war, but we are the daily target of hybrid warfare,” Dobrindt told German newspaper Bild am Sonntag. He described such threats as a “constant reality” but did not publicly identify any country responsible.

The comments followed Tuesday’s discovery of a drone carrying explosives at Leipzig/Halle Airport in eastern Germany. Some lawmakers accused Russia of involvement, though German authorities have not publicly established who was behind the suspected attack attempt.

Russia’s embassy in Berlin rejected the allegation on Friday, calling the incident a “fabricated provocation” and another example of accusations directed at Moscow without evidence.

Dobrindt previously described the Leipzig episode as a “hybrid attack scenario” but left open whether a foreign government was involved.

Security concerns increased after Germany’s armed forces reported that two drones had been detected late Thursday over a military base in Mechernich, in the western state of North Rhine-Westphalia. No connection between the sightings and the Leipzig incident has been established.

Germany has stepped up efforts to protect airports, military installations and other critical infrastructure amid repeated reports of suspicious drone activity, cyberattacks and alleged sabotage across Europe.

Dobrindt said expanding domestic drone research would form part of the government’s response to emerging threats. Such work could support the development of improved detection, tracking and counter-drone systems.

The incidents may add pressure on Berlin to increase investment in domestic security and defence technology as European governments seek better protection against unconventional attacks that fall short of open military conflict.