Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt told the newspaper Bild am Sonntag that foreign powers wanted ‌to subdue Germany politically and socially by stirring up fear there. "We're not at war, but we are the daily target of hybrid warfare," Dobrindt said. "Espionage, sabotage, cyberattacks, or covert operations by foreign powers aimed ‌at destabilising Germany ‌or inflicting ⁠direct harm are a constant reality." Dobrindt, a member of the conservative Christian Social Union, ​had ​called the Leipzig incident ​a "hybrid attack scenario," and left open possible ‌involvement by foreign powers. Dobrindt highlighted the ​expansion of drone research in Germany as part of the ​response to the ⁠new threats.