German minister praises security services after alleged spy's arrest

Germany's interior minister has praised the work of counter-espionage security services following the arrest of a German military official on suspicion of spying for Russia, reported dpa.

"This case also shows that our security authorities are keeping an eye on Russian espionage in Germany and are taking consistent measures against it," Nancy Faeser told the Funke media group on Thursday. "Our security authorities are extremely vigilant. We have pooled forces and ramped up protective measures to arm ourselves against the current threats."

German federal police on Wednesday arrested an officer for the Bundeswehr, as Germany's military is known. Federal prosecutors said the man is strongly suspected of having worked for a foreign intelligence agency.

The suspect allegedly contacted the Russian Consulate General in Bonn and the Russian Embassy in Berlin "on his own initiative" several times beginning in May 2023 and offered his cooperation.

He worked for an agency of the Bundeswehr responsible for the procurement, testing and development of military weapons.

In doing so, he transmitted information from his professional activities with Germany's military "for the purpose of forwarding it to a Russian intelligence service."

The investigation was conducted together with the Military Counter-Intelligence Service (MAD) and Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution (BfV), which is Germany's lead domestic intelligence agency.

German security authorities have stepped up efforts against Russian espionage over the past two years. In December, an employee of Germany's foreign spy service, the BND, was arrested on suspicion of treason for passing on secrets to Russia.