Merz claims Russian-planned drone strike on Leipzig airport narrowly missed disaster
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz told parliament that a drone attack on Leipzig/Halle airport was organized in Russia over months and was only averted by chance.
Merz said the attempted strike on Leipzig/Halle airport had been plotted in Russia for an extended period and specifically targeted Germany. He warned that major damage and casualties were avoided solely by luck. The comments came after the far-right Alternative for Germany won a state election in Saxony-Anhalt on a platform that includes closer ties with Moscow. Russia has denied involvement, and its foreign minister called the accusations a prelude to war.
Why it matters
It highlights a potential Russian-backed security threat to German infrastructure and the political fallout after a far-right election win.
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