Authorities probe explosive material near drone found at Wunstorf military airfield
A broken drone discovered near the Wunstorf airbase led investigators to locate suspicious material they believe to be explosives, part of a probe into the recent Leipzig airport attack.
Following the aborted drone-bomb attack on Leipzig/Halle Airport, investigators focused on a separate incident near the Wunstorf airbase in Niedersachsen. A farmer uncovered a drone broken into several pieces, and days later police discovered material close to the site that they suspect to be explosive, though forensic testing is still underway. The Generalbundesanwalt and the Bundeskriminalamt are reviewing whether the Wunstorf drone, which shares design features with the Leipzig devices and includes a 3D-printed component, is connected to the earlier plot.
Authorities believe the drone may have been present near the military airfield for up to two years. Wunstorf houses the Bundeswehr’s A400M transport fleet, a key logistics hub for global troop deployments. The investigation also overlaps with a broader probe into two suspects linked to the Leipzig attack, alleged to have Russian ties.
Why it matters
Possible connection between a domestic drone find and a thwarted attack raises security concerns for Germany's military airbases.
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