[ベルリン ２３日 ロイター] – The German Federal Prosecutor’s Office announced on the 23rd that it had arrested a staff member of the European Parliament belonging to the far-right party Alternative for Germany (AfD) on charges of spying for Chinese intelligence services.
The person arrested was a staff member of MEP Maximilian Kler. He reportedly provided Chinese intelligence with information about European Parliament consultations and decisions.
The staff resides in Brussels and Dresden, Germany. According to the public prosecutor’s office, he was arrested in Dresden on the 22nd after conducting espionage activities against anti-China factions in Germany.
The Public Prosecutor’s Office said it was a “particularly serious case of someone working for a foreign intelligence agency.”
On April 23, the German Federal Prosecutor’s Office announced that it had arrested a member of the staff of a member of the European Parliament from the far-right party Alternative for Germany (AfD) on charges of spying for Chinese intelligence services. The photo shows the flags of Germany and China. Photographed in Berlin in June 2023 (2024 Dewboard/Fabrizio Bensch)
Interior Minister Feser said that if true, “this is an attack from within on European democracy,” and that “the people who hired such staff are also responsible,” and that a thorough investigation would be carried out.
In April last year, Mr. Klar refuted criticism from European magazine The European Conservative that his staff were lobbying on behalf of China. “This is another defamatory article against me. It’s about a Chinese-born staff member who is a German citizen, a member of the AfD, studied in Dresden, and speaks fluent German and English. It’s full of lies,” the lawmaker said at the time. It was posted on.
An AfD spokesperson said of the arrests: “We are deeply concerned. We will do everything possible to support the investigation.”
At a press conference on the 23rd, a spokesperson for the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that the recent reports that China is conducting espionage activities in Europe are “intended to damage China’s credibility and suppress China.” We call on those involved to stop the spread of false information about the threat of these activities.”
On the same day, on the 22nd, three German nationals were arrested on suspicion of collaborating with Chinese intelligence agencies and providing China with technical information that could be used for military purposes.See more
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Tags: Farright party lawmaker staff arrested suspicion spying German prosecutors provide information China Reuters
