German Couple Arrested for Suspected Spying for China

May 20 ETDeveloping

World Desk

In Short: German prosecutors arrested a married couple with German citizenship in Munich on suspicion of working for a Chinese intelligence agency.

German prosecutors arrested a married couple with German citizenship in Munich on suspicion of working for a Chinese intelligence agency, according to reports from DW. The Office of the Federal Prosecutor announced the arrests on Wednesday, stating that the suspects were suspected of working for a Chinese secret intelligence agency to obtain scientific information about high-tech technologies with military applications.

The couple, identified as Xuejun C. and Hua S., reportedly built up contacts with scientists at German universities and research institutes to gain access to sensitive information. They are alleged to have posed as translators and employees of a German car parts supplier to facilitate their espionage activities.

The warrant for their arrest was issued a week prior, and federal prosecutors collaborated with Bavarian authorities to carry out the operation. The couple was arrested on Wednesday, following a week of preparation by investigators.

In their investigation, prosecutors claim the suspects sought to obtain scientific information about high-tech technologies with military applications, leveraging their positions to gather valuable intelligence from German academic and industrial sectors.

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Investigators on Wednesday arrested two Munich residents on suspicion of spying for China, the Office of the Federal Prosecutor (Generalbundesanwaltschaft) said.
The suspects are a married couple with German citizenship, identified as Xuejun C. and Hua S..
Prosecutors said the pair were suspected of working for a Chinese secret intelligence agency.
"In order to obtain access to scientific information about high-tech technologies with military applications, they built up contacts with numerous scientists at German universities and research institutes,"…
Among other roles, they are said to have posed as translators and employees of a German car parts supplier to gain access.
The two individuals were arrested on Wednesday on the authority of a warrant issued a week earlier; federal prosecutors worked in conjunction with authorities in Bavaria.

Sources

DWlink