Additional Coverage:
German Prosecutors Indict American in Espionage Case
Berlin — A U.S. citizen employed at a military facility in Germany has been indicted on espionage charges, accused of offering sensitive information to China. German federal prosecutors announced the indictment on Monday.
Identified only as Martin D. due to German privacy regulations, the suspect, in his late thirties, was arrested in Frankfurt in early November. He’s accused of declaring his willingness to spy for a foreign intelligence service, according to the indictment filed with the Koblenz state court.
Martin D. worked for a U.S. Defense Department civilian contractor from 2017 to early 2023, and at a U.S. military facility in Germany from at least 2020.
Prosecutors allege he repeatedly contacted Chinese authorities during the summer of 2024, offering sensitive U.S. military information. German media report that he apparently did not successfully transfer any data before his arrest.
The Koblenz court will now determine whether the case will proceed to trial. The case was investigated by the federal prosecutor’s office, which issued the arrest warrant on October 30, 2024. At the time of the arrest, the prosecutor’s office stated the accused was suspected of offering himself as an agent to a foreign intelligence service, willing to share confidential information obtained through his work with the U.S. military in Germany as a contractor for a private firm.
This arrest follows heightened concerns in the West regarding espionage and sabotage by foreign powers, including China and Russia.