Germany finds third drone, suspected explosives near Leipzig/Halle Airport

German investigators discovered a third drone and possible military explosive materials west of Leipzig/Halle Airport on August 14, adding to their probe of an attempted attack with a Ukrainian cargo jet on Aug. 5.

This comes around ten days after a drone packed with explosives was found on August 5 next to an Antonov cargo plane from Ukraine at the site, regional public broadcasters NDR and WDR and the Süddeutsche Zeitung reported Tuesday.

Investigators also found about 50 grams of a substance suspected to be the military explosive hexogen in the area, the media outlets said.

The Aug. 5 incident forced the grounding of flights for several hours at Leipzig/Halle Airport and triggered the deployment of a bomb disposal robot.

The discovery of a second drone, believed to have collided with a DHL cargo plane shortly after the airport was shut down for a few hours, is also being investigated by authorities, German news agency DPA reported, citing sources.

The DHL cargo plane later landed safely. Investigators also found an apparatus containing an antenna and electronic equipment affixed to a tree near Kursdorf  north of the airport and scorch marks on the ground and pieces of metal in the vicinity are being investigated as a potential site of an explosion.

German opposition leader Friedrich Merz has stated that the German authorities will soon state their findings regarding responsibility for the attempt.

German media has circulated suspicions of the involvement of Russian intelligence servicest but the German government has yet to formally blame any specific actor and the Russian government has denied any role.