The suspects in the attempted sabotage of a Ukrainian plane in Leipzig were found to have ties to Russia
German investigators have identified two suspects in the planning of an attack on a Ukrainian passenger plane at Leipzig Airport, uncovering a connection to Russia in their actions.
According to law enforcement officials, a Latvian citizen of Russian origin and a Belarusian citizen holding a Russian passport were involved in the incident. German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt noted that the attempted attack was meticulously planned and carried out on behalf of Russian state agencies by low-level agents.
According to the case file, one of the suspects arrived in the country in late July via Berlin Airport, rented a car to Leipzig, and left two days before the attempted attack. DNA evidence at the scene helped identify the second suspect, who had entered the country on an Italian visa. Experts from the Federal Criminal Police Office note that the perpetrators planned to use more drones than previously thought, as evidenced by the discovery of three unmanned aerial vehicles and their fragments.
Source: Sueddeutsche Zeitung.
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte praised the German government’s measures in response to Russia’s hybrid attacks and declared the Alliance’s full solidarity with Berlin.
As a reminder, Berlin is prepared to officially hold Russia responsible for the attempted drone attack in Leipzig. Germany is also considering imposing direct sanctions against Russian entities. Specifically, the Russian Consulate General in Bonn will be closed, the agreement regarding the “Russian House” in Berlin will be terminated, Berlin will propose new lists of Russian individuals to the European Union for sanctions in the context of hybrid attacks and will tighten entry controls for Russian citizens. Germany has also announced increased pressure on Russia’s “shadow fleet.”
