The Public Prosecutor’s Office in Munich announced on Wednesday the arrest of two German citizens suspected of engaging in intelligence agent activities. The Federal prosecutor’s office stated that the couple is alleged to have worked for a Chinese intelligence service. The arrests were carried out based on warrants issued by the investigating judge of the Federal Court of Justice.
The suspects are accused of establishing contacts with scientists at German universities and research institutions with the goal of obtaining high technology usable for military purposes. They are alleged to have operated under false pretenses, posing as interpreters or employees of an automotive manufacturer. Furthermore, they reportedly lured several scientists to China under the guise of giving academic presentations, when the actual talks took place with members of state defense enterprises.
In addition to the arrests, authorities conducted searches on the suspects’ residences and workplaces in Munich. The investigation’s scope is broad, with further measures involving ten non-suspect individuals who are considered potential witnesses. These individuals are located across various German states, including parts of Baden-Württemberg, Bavaria, Berlin, Brandenburg, Lower Saxony, and North Rhine-Westphalia.
The investigation is a joint effort involving the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution. The police investigation is being handled by the Bavarian State Criminal Police Office. The suspects are scheduled to appear before the investigating judge of the Federal Court of Justice later that day, who will rule on whether they are held in pre-trial detention.
