The investigation into the attempted drone attack on Leipzig/Halle Airport has led to two suspects. The German criminal police reportedly identified, with the help of DNA traces, two men holding Russian passports who are suspected of being involved in the attack attributed to Russia by Berlin.
The DNA traces that led to the identification of the two suspects were found on a drone, in a can filled with explosives, and on an antenna fixed to a tree near the airport, according to Süddeutsche Zeitung.
Who are the two suspects
The first suspect is of Belarusian nationality but also holds a Russian passport. He reportedly entered the Schengen area with an Italian tourist visa issued in Minsk. According to three German media institutions, the man was already known for crimes committed in the Baltic countries.
The second suspect holds both a Latvian and a Russian passport and, according to Süddeutsche Zeitung, was born in Russia. He is said to have had the role of logistical coordinator and instructor in the preparation of the attack.
The man arrived in Germany at the end of July through Berlin airport, then rented a car to travel to the Leipzig region. He left the country two days before the alleged attack, according to the sources cited.
How did investigators find them
The DNA traces discovered by the criminal police were checked in European databases, where investigators found matches in Lithuania and Finland. These results were then corroborated with information from intelligence services.
New details emerge a day after Germany officially attributed the attempted attack that occurred at the beginning of August to Russia.
The drone loaded with explosives was found in the secured area designated for cargo transport operations at Leipzig/Halle Airport, near several Ukrainian cargo planes. Just minutes later, a second device reportedly hit a DHL cargo plane.
According to the German press, another drone was later found near the airport, also showing traces of explosive substances.
Berlin accuses Russia
German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt stated that the police investigations, the modus operandi, and information from German services demonstrate "Russian responsibility in the attempted attack at Leipzig Airport."
Germany announced retaliatory measures against Russia on Tuesday after attributing the attempted attack to Moscow.
The case has triggered a broader reaction in Europe. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen warned on Wednesday that the incident is part of an increasingly dangerous pattern of Russian actions on European soil, while NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte stated that Russia is becoming "increasingly reckless."
Romania, in turn, has decided to summon the Russian ambassador to Bucharest in solidarity with Germany.
Moscow denies the accusations. Vladimir Putin described them as a "new gross mistake" by Germany, and the Russian Foreign Ministry summoned the German charge d'affaires in Moscow on Wednesday.
Since the beginning of the conflict in Ukraine, Germany and other European states have repeatedly accused the Kremlin of destabilization operations, espionage, and sabotage on their territory.