Joachim Herrmann, Interior Minister of the German state of Bavaria, confirmed today, Thursday (September 3, 2026), that two companies in the defense and security industries were targeted. Hermann said that it was suspected that there was a "political background" to the incident, stressing that the anti-terrorism unit in the Bavarian capital, Munich, had taken over the investigation.
The site is located near the East Train Station in Munich and facilities belonging to the drone companies "Helsing" and "Rhode & Schwarz". Helsing did not comment on the incident. While the technology company Rohde & Schwarz, which supplies the German army and other armies with equipment, confirmed in an interview with Agence France-Presse that it had found incendiary devices near its building, adding that it was “not affected by the attack.”
It is believed that the incendiary devices were thrown from a car around midnight. A witness saw the incident and informed the police, who launched a search for the suspects.
Agence France-Presse quoted a police spokesman as saying that the search operation resulted in the arrest of a 38-year-old Bulgarian man and a 28-year-old Bulgarian woman at a gas station in Munich.
“We face an increased risk of attacks on our infrastructure.”
This incident comes two days after suspected sabotage was reported at two German power plants hundreds of kilometers away from each other, and days after Berlin officially blamed Russia for the failed attempted attack with a drone loaded with explosives on Leipzig Airport.
"Overall, this incident shows that, as was already the case in other parts of Germany over recent days, we are now facing an increased risk of attacks on our infrastructure, but also very clearly in relation to our country's defense companies," said Hermann of the Christian Social Union.
He continued: "We must take these risks seriously, and be prepared for the fact that something like this could happen any day, anywhere else in Germany."
The results of a recent opinion poll in Germany showed that the majority of citizens now consider Russia a threat to the country's security, against the backdrop of drone incidents and the war in Ukraine.
According to the results of the Deutschland Trend poll conducted for the ARD network, 56% of participants believe that the Federal Republic of Germany faces a strong or very strong threat from Russia. In contrast, 39% of participants expressed their belief that Russia poses little or no threat to Germany.
The results showed a noticeable difference in the view of German citizens on this matter in the western and eastern parts of the country. While 59% of the citizens of the western states believe that Russia represents a strong or very strong threat to German security, this percentage does not exceed only 42% among the citizens of the eastern states.
While 36% of the population of western Germany believe that Russia represents only a minor or no threat to national security, the percentage of those who hold this opinion reached 47% among the population of the west of the country.
The Infratest Demap Institute conducted its representative poll this time among 1,319 people eligible to vote, with a margin of error ranging between two and three percentage points.
The survey took place from Monday to Wednesday last. In conjunction with the German government’s announcement on Tuesday that the Russian authorities are responsible for the failed attempted attack using a bomb-laden drone at Leipzig/Halle Airport in eastern Germany early last month, announcing punitive measures against Moscow, while the Kremlin denies any involvement in the incident.
The German Federal Ministry of Economy and Energy announced in a statement today, Thursday (September 3, 2026), that Germany intends to contribute an additional amount of 250 million euros to cover the costs of urgent repair work in the energy infrastructure in Ukraine.
The statement said, "This step aims to ensure energy and heating supplies to the population in Ukraine despite the continuing Russian attacks."
The statement quoted German Economy Minister Katharina Reiche as saying: “Energy supplies in particular remain one of the front lines of this war.” Therefore, we support Ukraine in protecting and rebuilding its energy infrastructure, and we call on all international partners to make further efforts.”
Germany intends to provide these funds through the German Reconstruction Credit Bank (KFW), which is owned by the German government.
She added that Germany supports Ukraine in cooperation with the German business sector. The minister, who belongs to Chancellor Friedrich Merz's party, the Christian Democrats, explained: “Donations of energy equipment made by German companies have already made it possible to re-supply energy to 1.4 million people. At the same time, we are working to raise private investments for reconstruction.”
The Ministry explained that since the beginning of the war four and a half years ago, the Ukrainian Energy Support Fund has collected about 2.4 billion euros from international donors. With a contribution of 810 million euros to date, Germany is the largest contributing country to the Fund. The Ministry of Economy added that the participation of German supplier companies is actively supported by KFW Bank.
German Foreign Minister Johann Wadewohl expressed his regret at Moscow's announcement of the closure of the Goethe Institute's branches in Russia. The minister said in statements to the German News Agency (DPA) today, Thursday, in response to an inquiry on the sidelines of a meeting with his French and Polish counterparts in the city of Weimar in the German state of Thuringia: “Every day, the Goethe-Institut makes an important contribution to fruitful cultural relations and societal exchange between Russia and Germany, despite the extremely difficult circumstances since the start of the Russian war of invasion in Ukraine.”
Vadivul criticized the measure, saying: “Against this background, the measure announced by the Russian Federation now is very regrettable, because it causes more damage to our relations.”
Vadifol, along with his French and Polish counterparts, visited the home of the late German poet Johann Wolfgang von Goethe in Weimar. The minister stated that Russia's announced closure of the Goethe Institutes is not justified in particular, because the German government is responding by closing the Russian House in Berlin to an attack clearly attributed to Russia.
Berlin held Moscow responsible for the attempted attack with a drone loaded with explosives on the German Leipzig/Halle Airport on August 4. The German government announced the day before Tuesday a package of sanctions against Moscow. Russia denies having anything to do with the drone at the airport.
In a related context, the German Foreign Minister criticized that the Russian House had long ceased to be worthy of its name as the so-called “House of Science and Culture,” and said: “I say very clearly: it does not serve culture or science,” adding that Russia must decide the type of relations it wants with Germany.
