Pistorius: No knowledge of explosive device in machine

The German Ministry of Defense has not yet received any information about a possible explosive device on board the DHL cargo plane that crashed near Vilnius. This was announced by Defense Minister Boris Pistorius (SPD) at a meeting with colleagues from France, Great Britain, Poland and Italy in Berlin in response to a question from journalists.

All in all, there was an exchange of views on the fact that "it is now a matter of increasing awareness of certain cargo shipments", Pistorius added. "At the same time, we also know that there is probably no one hundred percent security in this field. But the gaps that exist and are recognized must be closed," said the minister, adding: "Both civil aviation and the military are aware of this."

At the end of August, German security authorities warned of "unconventional incendiary devices" being sent by unknown persons via freight service providers. At the time, the warning was linked in security circles to an incident at the DHL logistics center in Leipzig, which acts as the company's global hub. In July, a parcel sent from the Baltic States containing an incendiary device is said to have caught fire there. In security circles, a connection with increasing cases of Russian sabotage in Germany has not been ruled out.