The German Federal Public Prosecutor General said Thursday it had arrested an employee of the government department that develops and procures advanced weapons systems on suspicion of passing secrets to Russia. Photo courtesy German Federal Public Prosecutor General’s Office
Aug. 10 (UPI) — A German defense department employee appeared in federal court on suspicion of passing classified information to the Russian intelligence service, the federal prosecutor general’s office said Thursday.
The arrest warrant for the German citizen identified only as Thomas H, who was arrested in Kolbenz on Wednesday after his home and workplace were searched, alleged he is “strongly suspected” of having worked for a foreign secret service, the Federal Public Prosecutor General said in a news release.
“H” worked at the federal government department responsible for developing and procuring modern weapon systems for the German military and in May allegedly made repeated contacts beginning with the Russian Consulate General in Bonn and the Russian Embassy in Berlin offering his services.
“On one occasion he transmitted information that he had obtained in the course of his professional activity for the purpose of forwarding it to a Russian intelligence service,” the prosecutor said.
The investigating judge of the Federal Court of Justice remanded “H” in custody, pending a date for trial.
The investigation was conducted in close cooperation with the Federal Office for the Military Counterintelligence Service and the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution, the prosecutor added.
Justice Minister Marco Buschmann, who broke the news earlier on social media, thanked everyone involved in the operation but stressed the need for continued watchfulness.
“Vigilance is the order of the day,” he said.
In June, Germany’s domestic intelligence agency, the BfV, warned of a heightened risk of an “aggressive Russian espionage operation” as a consequence of its invasion of Ukraine.
That followed the arrest in January of a man named only as Arthur E on treason charges related to the passing of classified information from Germany’s Federal Intelligence Service to a Russian intelligence service. “E’ was not an employee of the agency.
Authorities believe he is connected to alleged Russian spy, German Foreign Intelligence Service employee “Carsten L” who was arrested in December, and “is strongly suspected of being an accomplice to treason.”
A former security guard at Britain’s Embassy in Berlin was sentenced to 13 years in prison in February after being convicted of spying for Russia.
David Ballantyne Smith, who pleaded guilty to eight charges under the Official Secrets Acts involving passing classified documents and photos to Russian authorities, was caught in a sting operation involving British intelligence operatives posing as Russian agents.
