Germany says American contractor tried to pass China info on U.S. military

Berlin — German authorities person detained a U.S. national connected suspicion of attempting to walk delicate accusation astir American subject operations successful Germany to Chinese intelligence agencies. The fishy has been identified only arsenic Martin D., nether German privateness laws. He is simply a 37-year-old erstwhile civilian contractor employed by nan U.S. subject who was arrested by nan German Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA) Thursday greeting successful Frankfurt, according to nan Federal Prosecutor's Office.

The lawsuit is being investigated by nan national prosecutor's office, which ordered nan apprehension connected a warrant issued connected Oct. 30 by a national judge.

"Due to a pressing suspicion, nan accused stands charged pinch offering himself arsenic an supplier to a overseas intelligence service," nan prosecutor's agency said successful a statement Thursday. 

Martin D. is accused of contacting Chinese authorities authorities earlier this year, offering to stock confidential accusation he acquired during his activity pinch nan U.S. subject successful Germany. His erstwhile employment progressive moving arsenic a civilian contractor for a backstage patient that provided services to American forces based successful nan cardinal authorities of Hessen, wherever Frankfurt is located.

U.S. Army combat helicopters are seen astatine nan Wiesbaden Army Airfield successful Wiesbaden-Erbenheim, Hessen, Germany, successful a June 15, 2024 record photo. Andreas Arnold/picture alliance/Getty

Investigators judge Martin D. initiated interaction pinch Chinese intelligence operatives, proposing to manus complete classified accusation astir nan U.S. subject beingness and operations wrong Germany. The prosecutor's connection said he was "urgently suspected of having expressed a willingness to behaviour intelligence activities for a overseas intelligence service."

In consequence to a imaginable nationalist information threat, German counter-intelligence launched an investigation, pinch nan BKA starring nan operation. Martin D.'s residence was searched arsenic portion of nan cognition but authorities person not said what, if any, materials were seized.

The investigation was launched based connected first accusation gathered by Germany's home intelligence agency, nan Office for nan Protection of nan Constitution (BfV), which has been expanding vigilance against overseas intelligence activities wrong nan country.

The apprehension comes amid increasing interest successful Western capitals astir espionage and sabotage activities by overseas powers, particularly China and Russia. Just days ago, a root acquainted pinch nan matter that American and European rule enforcement agencies were jointly investigating whether incendiary devices that detonated successful July astatine DHL logistics hubs successful Germany and nan U.K. were portion of a larger cognition directed by Russia's subject intelligence agency.

Martin D. was scheduled to beryllium brought earlier a judge astatine nan German Federal Court of Justice Thursday. The judge was to formally coming nan apprehension warrant and determine whether nan accused tin beryllium held successful pre-trial detention. 

Several group person been arrested successful Germany this twelvemonth and accused of spying for China. In April, national prosecutors detained 3 Germans successful Düsseldorf and Bad Homburg who person been accused of passing subject exertion information. Another high-profile lawsuit progressive nan apprehension of a erstwhile adjunct to far-right AfD statement leader Maximilian Krah, who's accused of sharing EU Parliament information and surveilling Chinese dissidents successful Germany.

In early October, a Chinese female moving for a logistics institution astatine Leipzig/Halle Airport was besides detained connected suspicion of espionage. She is accused of providing nan erstwhile Krah subordinate pinch accusation astir flights, cargo and passengers, peculiarly regarding subject equipment and individuals linked to a German defense firm.

If convicted, Martin D. could look superior charges nether German laws connected espionage and unauthorized intelligence activities that transportation lengthy situation sentences.

In:
• U.S. Marine Corps
• Spying
• U.S. Army
• European Union
• Germany