Germany's Merz warns attackers will 'pay price' after drone incident - BBC News

A drone attack on Leipzig Airport highlights the "very real threat" faced by the country, the German chancellor says.

Image source, ReutersImage caption, Police used a robot to defuse an explosive device found on a drone at Leipzig Airport earlier this month

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has warned that those responsible for drone attacks and other hostile acts against Germany, including a recent case at Leipzig Airport, would "pay a price".

Merz said the incident showed Germany was "facing a very real threat" and was increasingly becoming a target.

On 4 August, a drone carrying an explosive device was discovered at Leipzig/Halle Airport in eastern Germany, close to Ukrainian cargo planes. However, it failed to explode as the detonator was apparently faulty.

Police defused the explosives and believe a second drone may have collided with a cargo aircraft nearby. Security experts have speculated that Russia may have been responsible.