Drones spotted over German base days after Leipzig bomb incident

German military officials are investigating reports of unidentified drones spotted over a base in Mechernich that stores Patriot missile system components. This incident follows a separate security breach involving an explosive-laden drone at Leipzig airport, raising concerns about hybrid warfare tactics in Europe.
Why it matters
The incidents highlight growing security vulnerabilities at critical infrastructure sites in nations supporting Ukraine, potentially signaling an escalation in hybrid threats.
Image source, Google By Ruth Comer Published 12 minutes ago Two drones were spotted over a military base in western Germany just days after an explosive-laden device was found at Leipzig airport.
Germany's armed forces (Bundeswehr) confirmed they were seen on Thursday evening at a base in Mechernich, near Bonn, reportedly housing components for US-made Patriot air-defence systems.
A spokeswoman for the Bundeswehr Joint Force Command said military police were deployed to the site before the matter was handed over to local police.
It is the latest instance of drones being spotted near military bases or airports in European nations supporting Ukraine in its war with Russia, on which suspicion has fallen. Moscow has consistently denied any involvement.
German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt told newspaper Bild on Sunday that Germany had become a regular target of "destabilising" attacks.
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