Germany detains Bundeswehr employee for spying for Iran German prosecutors say an army employee has been detained on suspicion of spying for Iranian intelligence. The German-Afghan citizen worked as a translator for the German military.

Germany detains Bundeswehr employee for spying for Iran German prosecutors say an army employee has been detained on suspicion of spying for Iranian intelligence. The German-Afghan citizen worked as a translator for the German military.

German federal prosecutors on Tuesday said an employee of the German army had been held on suspicion of spying for the Iranian intelligence service.

The prosecutor's office said in a statement that a 50-year-old German-Afghan citizen, whose name was given as Abdul Hamid S., was a language expert and cultural adviser for the German armed forces.

"Abdul Hamid S. is strongly suspected of having worked for a foreign intelligence agency," the intelligence officer said.

The German news magazine Der Spiegel reported that the suspect had access to sensitive information, including possible details of troop deployments in Afghanistan. It said he had worked for Iranian secret services for several years.

Germany's military, the Bundeswehr, often uses native interpreters to accompany troops on patrol in Afghanistan. The man was reportedly arrested in Germany's Rhineland region.

Read more: Denmark foils 'Iranian intelligence agency' attack

Intelligence officials in Germany and Europe have raised fears about what they see as increasing espionage by Iran. Germany's domestic intelligence agency in July reported that Iran had upped its cyber warfare capabilities and posed a danger for German companies.

Germany has past examples of uncovering spies working for foreign agencies that made for big headlines.

In 2016, former German intelligence officer Markus Reichel was convicted of spying for both the CIA and Russian intelligence.

In 2013, Germany jailed a married couple who it found had spied for the Russian secret services for more than 20 years. The pair had been planted in the former West Germany from 1988 by the Soviet Union's KGB and later its successor, the SVR.

rc/jil (dpa, Reuters, AP)

DW RECOMMENDS

EU sanctions Iran over thwarted attacks on European soil

Brussels has backed sanctions against Iran for its involvement in assassination attempts in France and Denmark. For some European governments, the measures are long overdue. (09.01.2019)  

Israeli former minister Gonen Segev to be jailed for spying for Iran

After plea bargaining, Gonen Segev is to be jailed for 11 years. He was extradited from Africa last year for acting as an agent for a foreign power; Israel's main foe, Iran. (09.01.2019)  

Denmark foils 'Iranian intelligence agency' attack

Danish security officials have accused Iranian intelligence of "planning an attack on Danish soil" against Iranian Arab dissidents. Tehran has linked recent terrorist attacks inside Iran to European-based separatists. (30.10.2018)  

Non-citizen soldiers in Germany: What you need to know

Germany's decision to consider allowing non-citizens into its armed forces is not unique. In fact, many countries, including the US and Russia, use the promise of citizenship as a way to recruit new troops. (27.12.2018)  

Two Iranians indicted in US on spying charges

The US Justice Department has indicted two Iranian men on spying charges. They were arrested earlier this month for the surveillance of a Jewish facility and gathering information on an Iranian militant group. (21.08.2018)  

German court convicts couple of spying for Russia

A German court has convicted a married couple of spying for Russia for decades and has sentenced them to prison terms. The pair was arrested in October 2011 after leading a seemingly inconspicuous life in Germany. (02.07.2013)  

https://www.dw.com/en/germany-detains-bundeswehr-employee-for-spying-for-iran/a-47090621?maca=en-Twitter-sharing