Following the discovery of a drone carrying an explosive device at Leipzig/Halle Airport during the night leading into Wednesday, Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt (CSU) characterized the situation as marking a “professional hybrid threat landscape.” Speaking on Thursday at the site, he stressed that having a drone equipped with explosives on airport grounds constitutes an entirely new threat scenario.
Dobrindt noted that while it is part of the hybrid threat principle that the origin point should always be clearly identifiable, these threatening actions cannot originate from amateurs. He insisted that the endeavor must have been prepared with a high degree of technical expertise regarding explosives, concluding that “all of this does not point to amateur action.”
The CSU politician recalled that he had previously argued that it was necessary to elevate the perceived threat level. He stated that the focus needed to shift “from an abstract threat landscape towards one of considerable danger,” a reality he said was being demonstrated right now.
Regarding the professional nature of the technology, the Interior Minister cautioned that it must be assumed the perpetrators may already be aware of defensive countermeasures and might be utilizing technologies that cannot be identified using existing defense systems. “This means we are experiencing an arms race in the area of hybrid threats,” Dobrindt stated.
He added that this competition might include foreign powers, who could potentially contribute to significant uncertainty within Germany, a matter which will be included in the ongoing investigation.
