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The pilot was killed in a tragic helicopter crash in the Ore Mountains. Despite immediate efforts to save him, he died at the scene of the crash. MDR has also been affected by the ‘Matryoshka’ disinformation campaign. An investigation by the broadcaster has uncovered several hundred fake posts. Also: two further suspected IS terrorists have been arrested in Saxony. The LZ summarises the key events in Leipzig and beyond on Friday, 14 August 2026.
Pilot dies in helicopter crash in Saxony
A tragic accident occurred this Friday morning in the Ore Mountains. At around 10 am, a helicopter crashed in a forest in the Sehmatal valley, in the district of Neudorf, and was completely burnt out. This was reported by the Freie Presse (paywall). According to the report, colleagues were able to rescue the seriously injured pilot from the wreckage, but he died at the scene despite immediate medical intervention. The man had been on a work assignment in his helicopter to apply lime to the forest.
A total of 85 firefighters from the surrounding area, including Czech emergency services, were deployed; they extinguished the fire and thus prevented it from spreading further in the hard-to-reach section of woodland. “The Chemnitz Criminal Investigation Department has launched an investigation in collaboration with the Federal Bureau of Aircraft Accident Investigation. Work at the scene of the accident is continuing in the meantime,” the Chemnitz Police Headquarters stated in a press release.
MDR affected by ‘Matryoshka’ disinformation campaign
The foreign disinformation campaign known as “Matryoshka” also affects Mitteldeutscher Rundfunk (MDR). This has been revealed by the broadcaster’s own investigations. A total of 338 posts have been recorded in a dataset since 24 July. On several occasions, MDR was misused as the sender. These include fake videos bearing the official MDR logo. Security authorities attribute the affected posts to the campaign.
According to experts and security authorities, the campaign – believed to be orchestrated from Russia – is aimed, amongst other things, at influencing public opinion ahead of the state election in Saxony-Anhalt. In fake online videos, state and local politicians are accused, amongst other things, of fabricated serious criminal offences. The posts are often created using artificial intelligence and feature logos and front pages of well-known media outlets such as Tagesschau and Spiegel.
MDR has also been affected. However, according to MDR’s editor-in-chief Christin Bohmann, the broadcaster stands for reliable, fact-based and independent reporting, a standard to which it will remain steadfastly committed.
Suspected IS terrorists arrested in Saxony
On 11 and 13 August 2026, the Saxony Central Office for Extremism (ZESA) at the Dresden Public Prosecutor’s Office, acting through the Police Counter-Terrorism Centre (PTAZ) in Dresden and Königstein, arrested a 27-year-old and a 33-year-old Iraqi national. These arrests were made on the basis of arrest warrants issued by the Dresden Higher Regional Court. In addition, the homes of the two suspects were searched.
They are accused of being members of a terrorist organisation whilst abroad. From February 2016 to May 2017 and from April 2016 to February 2017 respectively, they are alleged to have been active as fighters in various combat units of the terrorist organisation ‘Islamic State’. Both are said to have received a monthly payment for this.
During the searches, mobile phones, a laptop and identity documents were seized. The two accused were brought before the investigating judge at the Dresden Higher Regional Court, who remanded them in custody.
What the LZ reported on today:
Hello Leipzig: This is how Friday, 14 August 2026, kicks off the weekend LVB Update
Living contentedly in a clusterfuck – Part 1: How does one acquire crisis resilience?
Headwinds: Gerti Tetzner’s banned book from 1981 finally in print
When the floods swept across Europe: The forgotten flood disasters of 1342 and 1343
Fed up with saviours: ‘Mirandolina’ premieres on Saturday on the KAOS terrace
What else was important:
In Hürtgenwald in the Eifel, 300 hectares of woodland are currently ablaze. Overnight, the fire had spread to such an extent that the Hürtgenwald-Gey district had to be evacuated. According to the WDR, this affects over 2,000 people.
The Swedish Parliament has lowered the age of criminal responsibility from 15 to 14. In addition, leniency for young offenders has been abolished. This means that young people under the age of 18 can now be sentenced to prison terms of up to 18 years. This was a response to rising youth crime. The law comes into force on 10 September.
A new tariff development from the US: in order to become less reliant on China for drone imports, the US government has now imposed tariffs of up to 100 per cent on Chinese imports of drones and accessories. This is intended to boost domestic production. The new tariffs are set to apply for the most part from 3 September.
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