German officials have dismissed reports that an explosive-laden drone discovered at Leipzig airport was positioned next to a plane loaded with weapons destined for Ukraine. According to a Bundestag committee meeting cited by the magazine Focus, the Interior Ministry confirmed there were no munitions on the aircraft, with the last such transport flight occurring on July 29, 2026.

Two Iraqi nationals, aged 29 and 46, were arrested on suspicion of terrorism by German authorities in the towns of Höxter and Bottrop, North Rhine-Westphalia. Evidence indicated they had fought with the Islamic State in Iraq about a decade ago. A spokeswoman for the Düsseldorf State Prosecutor's Office stated the men were accused of membership in a terrorist organization abroad.

Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt described the attempted attack as likely carried out by highly trained professionals and did not rule out foreign involvement. Experts from Düsseldorf's Explosive Ordnance Disposal Service successfully disarmed the bomb found.

In related news, a company announced a $1.22 billion settlement with the US government to relinquish offshore wind leases in the New York Bight and off the coasts of Louisiana and California. Auto expert Constantin Gall from consulting firm EY noted that while electromobility is growing rapidly in Germany, domestic automotive industry benefits remain limited, with Chinese companies being the main beneficiaries.

Sources