Tuesday, 6 October 2026: Protests against the Covenant factory, serious robbery in Markranstädt, draw for the Saxony Cup round of 16

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The arrival of the defence contractor Covenant continues to stir up emotions in Leipzig. A protest against it took place on Augustusplatz today. In Markranstädt, meanwhile, a drinks shop has lost its takings following a robbery. And: no derby in the round of 16 of the Saxony Cup. However, a real cracker was drawn in the draw. The LZ summarises the key events in Leipzig and beyond on Tuesday, 6 October 2026.

Protests against the Covenant factory

Yesterday, Monday, the future production facility for ‘Systems Anthem’ cruise missiles was inaugurated in the north of Leipzig in the presence of Saxony’s Minister-President Michael Kretschmer (CDU). The defence contractor Covenant plans to produce an initial 1,000 of these here next year. This project is also meeting with resistance in Leipzig.

On Tuesday evening, around 200 to 300 people demonstrated on Augustusplatz against the establishment of this facility. The demonstration was organised by the alliance “No Missile Factory in Leipzig”. Among those present were the Leipzig Left, represented by several city councillors, as well as pro-Palestinian groups, who chanted slogans such as “Free Palestine”. Opposition to the factory was thus voiced, as – in the view of some participants – it would facilitate genocide and Leipzig could also become a military target. The alliance has already announced the next demonstration for 24 October.

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However, there will also be protests at the Festival of Lights, which is due to take place on 9 October to commemorate the peaceful revolution of 1989. The ‘Friedenswende 2023’ initiative has called for a rally at 5 pm in the immediate vicinity of the iconic St Nicholas’ Church under the slogan ‘No arms production in Leipzig and the region – prepare for peace – not war!’. On this historic date, the initiative therefore wishes to highlight once again the original spirit of the day: “People can take action themselves, join forces and peacefully influence social development,” according to a press release.

Serious robbery in Markranstädt

A serious robbery took place yesterday evening at a drinks shop in Markranstädt. The Leipzig Police Headquarters reported this today. At around 7 pm, an unknown suspect threatened a 38-year-old employee at the shop on Leipziger Straße “by brandishing a dangerous object” and demanded cash. Shocked, the employee handed over a sum in the high three-figure range to the robber. Fortunately, he was unharmed.

The unknown man, who fled with the cash, is now, of course, being sought by the police. They describe him as approximately 1.60 metres tall and of a slim build. He was dressed entirely in black and had his face concealed by a dark scarf and a baseball cap. The Criminal Investigation Department at 1 Dimitroffstraße is appealing for information, including by telephone on 0341-96646666.

Saxony Cup round of 16 draw

At the “Egidius Braun” sports and conference hotel in Leipzig-Abtnaundorf, the Saxony Football Association (SFV) drew the round of 16 for the Wernesgrüner Saxony Cup at midday today. Former RB Leipzig player Dominik Kaiser acted as the draw master. He handed the two Leipzig-based Regionalliga sides, Lok and Chemie, what appear to be relatively straightforward fixtures. As in the previous round, they have each been drawn against opponents from the Landesklasse – the 7th tier. Whilst 1. FC Lok travel to HFC Colditz, BSG Chemie face Ifa Chemnitz.

FC Eilenburg, the surprise team that knocked out Aue, faces another tough challenge, however. The Oberliga side will once again host a Regionalliga team, Chemnitzer FC. Furthermore, with 12 titles to their name, CFC are by far the most successful cup winners in Saxony. The SFV has announced 14th, 15th and 18th November as the match dates for this round of 16.

Overview:
HFC Colditz (Sachsenklasse) v 1. FC Lok Leipzig (Regionalliga)
FC Eilenburg (Oberliga) v Chemnitzer FC (Regionalliga)
Reichenbacher FC (Sachsenliga) v VFC Plauen (Oberliga)
Stahl Riesa (Saxony League) v FSV Zwickau (Regional League)
Bischofswerdaer FV (Saxony League) v SC Freital (Oberliga)
BSC Freiberg (Saxony Division) v SG Taucha (Saxony League)
Ifa Chemnitz (Sachsenklasse) v BSG Chemie Leipzig (Regionalliga)
Radeberger SV (Sachsenklasse) v Radefelder SV (Sachsenklasse)

What the LZ reported on today:

The City Council met: Can a vacant property levy alleviate the social housing crisis in Leipzig?

It shines like new again: Maintenance of the Marx relief on the Jahnallee campus completed

Brazil’s 2026 World Cup bid – a double blow to the global climate: A commentary

On the book market at the Frankfurt Book Fair: When readers and publishers disappear

Looming budget cuts: Saxon memorial sites sound the alarm

Book launch on 9 October at the KUB Gallery: Because looking the other way is not an option

What else was important:

With Tobias Rausch, Saxony-Anhalt has elected an AfD politician as President of the State Parliament – the first time this has ever happened in Germany. 48 of the 82 members of the state parliament cast a ‘yes’ vote in the secret ballot.

The American researcher Francis Halzen is to be awarded the 2026 Nobel Prize in Physics. The 82-year-old astrophysicist succeeded in detecting ‘ghost particles’ – neutrinos – using the ‘IceCube’ detector at the South Pole.

The former head of the BND, August Hanning, and a former close colleague were arrested this morning on suspicion of espionage. Hanning is accused of having illegally obtained and passed on classified information from the Federal Intelligence Service for years after his term of office ended.

The US state of Pennsylvania has experienced its largest measles outbreak in 35 years. Over 1,000 cases have already been reported, and five people have even died from the disease. Other states are also affected.