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Reports point to possible suspects: Rome examines information on Leipzig explosives drone case
🇩🇪 Germany /Conflict & Security

Reports point to possible suspects: Rome examines information on Leipzig explosives drone case

From Die Zeit · () German

Translated from German and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

Newswire From a news agency Under investigation
  • Italy said it would investigate reports that a possible suspect in the suspected Russian attack attempt at Leipzig/Halle Airport entered the EU with an Italian tourist visa.
  • German investigators reportedly identified suspects, and Die Zeit said two people were under investigation.
  • The reports have renewed EU debate over tightening visa rules for Russian and Belarusian citizens, citing security concerns.

Italy is examining information that a possible participant in the suspected Russian attack attempt at Leipzig/Halle Airport entered the European Union on an Italian tourist visa. Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said the necessary checks would now take place.

Speaking on the sidelines of an EU meeting in Ireland, Tajani said visa applications followed an established procedure and required applicants to meet certain conditions. If those conditions were met and no warning appeared against the applicants, he said, the visa would be issued.

There will now be all the necessary investigations.

— Antonio TajaniItaly's foreign minister said Rome would examine reports about a possible suspect's Italian tourist visa.

German media reported that investigators from the Federal Criminal Police Office had identified suspects in the case. Die Zeit said prosecutors were investigating two people. According to reporting by NDR, WDR and Süddeutsche Zeitung, one of them allegedly entered the Schengen area with an Italian tourist visa issued at an Italian diplomatic mission in Minsk, Belarus, at the end of April.

If it is true that one of the suspects travelled to the EU with an Italian tourist visa, then this shows very clearly that the EU can be harmed with the help of visas.

— Kaja KallasThe EU's chief diplomat discussed the security implications of the reports.

The reports prompted fresh discussion among EU foreign ministers about possible changes to visa rules. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said that, if confirmed, the case would show how visas could be used to cause harm inside the bloc. She said several member states had previously warned that tourist visas could be used for sabotage operations because suspects needed a way to enter the EU.

Visa rules for citizens of Russia and partner countries such as Belarus have faced repeated debate since Russia began its war against Ukraine. The rules have been tightened several times, but EU countries still issue large numbers of tourist visas. Italian, French and Spanish consulates in Russia recently continued to issue six-figure numbers of Schengen visas. Critics accuse those countries of being unwilling to give up wealthy tourists.

Because this is also genuinely about our own security.

— Kaja KallasKallas argued for possible tougher visa restrictions if the information were confirmed.
About this summary

Originally published by Die Zeit in German. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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