OMM Newsroom
A car is suspected of crashing through the perimeter fence and entering Leipzig/Halle Airport in eastern Germany, prompting a major police operation, Anadolu Agency reported on Sunday.
Damage to the fence was found on Saturday night shortly before 11 p.m. local time (2100 GMT). Police said it was “highly likely” that a vehicle had entered the airport grounds near several Russian “Antonov” cargo planes, according to German daily “BILD”.
Emergency responders searched the airport overnight. Police spokeswoman Therese Leverenz said a vehicle had probably driven through the fence, but neither a vehicle nor any unauthorised people were found on the premises during the search.
The search was due to continue on Sunday with additional personnel. The airport’s north runway remained closed to air traffic.
Leverenz told “BILD” that flight operations on the airport’s north side had been suspended following the security incident. “DHL” cargo planes using the Leipzig/Halle hub were rerouted to the south runway.
Three Russian An-124 aircraft are stationed at the airport
The damaged section of fence near the Russian “Antonov” aircraft was secured and cordoned off. The three An-124 cargo planes have been stationed at Leipzig/Halle since 2022 and are not permitted to take off because of EU sanctions against Russia.
Earlier security incident involved a drone
The suspected fence breach is the second security-related incident at Leipzig Airport in three months. In early August, a drone rigged with explosives was found on airport grounds next to Ukrainian “Antonov” cargo planes.
The German government blamed Russia for the attempted attack. Federal Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt said the investigation had confirmed Russian responsibility. The federal government subsequently warned of a further escalation in Russian hybrid attacks on critical infrastructure in Germany. Moscow rejected the allegations.
