German officials have denied reports that an explosive-laden drone found at Leipzig airport was positioned next to a plane carrying weapons destined for Ukraine. According to the Interior Ministry, cited by the magazine Focus and participants in a Bundestag committee meeting, there were no weapons or ammunition on the aircraft. The last transport flight carrying munitions took place on July 29, 2026.

Federal prosecutors have taken over the investigation following the incident. Experts from Düsseldorf's Explosive Ordnance Disposal Service successfully disarmed the bomb found on the drone.

Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt stated on the evening of August 5, 2026, that the attempted attack appeared to be the work of highly trained professionals and did not rule out the involvement of foreign powers.

Separately, German authorities arrested two Iraqi nationals aged 29 and 46 on suspicion of terrorism. The arrests occurred in Höxter and Bottrop, North Rhine-Westphalia, after evidence showed the men had fought with the Islamic State in Iraq about a decade ago. They have been accused of membership in a terrorist organization abroad, according to a spokeswoman for the Düsseldorf State Prosecutor's Office.

In other 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 of consulting firm EY commented that despite strong growth in electric cars accelerating electromobility in Germany, the domestic automotive industry has seen limited benefits, with Chinese companies being the main beneficiaries.

By 1948, Turkey retired its remaining FW 190 fleet, three years after Nazi Germany's defeat and amid spare parts shortages, as it sought alliance with the US and NATO membership.

Sources