German authorities have identified two people suspected of being involved in the attempted drone attack at Leipzig airport, while investigations are examining their possible links to Russia.
According to German media, one of the suspects is a Belarusian citizen, who is also suspected of holding a Russian passport. He entered the Schengen area with an Italian tourist visa, issued by the Italian embassy in Minsk at the end of April.
German investigators have found DNA traces that allegedly belong to this person. According to reports, he also had criminal records in the Baltic countries. The second suspect is a person with a Latvian and Russian passport. He is suspected of having played the role of logistical coordinator and instructor of the operation.
The man is believed to have entered Germany at the end of July via Berlin airport and then travelled to Saxony in a rental car. Two days before the suspected attack, he left Germany again by plane. According to German broadcaster ARD, investigators have linked him to a Russian intelligence agency.
German media reports that investigators are looking for at least four people who may have played a role in the operation. For some of them, DNA traces have been found or mobile phones have been identified in areas covered by the network.
The suspected attack at Leipzig/Halle airport has been described by German authorities as a Russia-linked operation. Berlin has accused Moscow of an act of hybrid warfare on German territory, while Russia has denied the allegations.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said that the European Union and NATO are united in the face of these developments.
"This was an attack with military materials, carried out by a Russian operation on European territory. We will not tolerate it," von der Leyen declared in Brussels, after a meeting with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte.
The incident took place on August 4, but was only made public a few days later. According to German authorities, the operation is suspected to have been carried out in several stages. Initially, a drone equipped with explosives was found near a Ukrainian Antonov aircraft. Later, after the airport reopened, another drone hit a DHL cargo plane, but without causing major damage. About ten days later, authorities found another drone and military explosives in the surrounding area.
