The office of the German Attorney General announced today, Monday, that three German citizens were arrested on suspicion of spying for Chinese intelligence.

According Spiegel article, the three are suspected of leaking Berlin military secrets to Beijing -and in particular as regards advanced technology components applied to warships.

“The defendants are strongly suspected of having worked for the Chinese secret service since at least June 2022, without being able to precisely determine the start of their activity.” announced the Prosecutor’s office.

The three arrested will be brought before the investigator at the Federal Court today and tomorrow.

Who are the arrested?

Thomas R. and the androgynous Herving and Ina F. were arrested in Dusseldorf and Bad Homburg and their homes and workplaces were searched. The three suspects are also believed to have breached EU foreign trade legislation on Dual-Use Goods.

THE Thomas R. he allegedly worked as an agent for his employee China’s Ministry of State Security (MSS).

On his account, the German was securing information about innovative technologies that could be used by the military.

As part of his research, needed the help of the couple, who run a storefront in Dusseldorf, with the object of communication and cooperation with representatives of German science and research.

There was even cooperation agreement between the company and an East German university for the transfer and exploitation of scientific discoveries.

According to Federal Prosecutor Jens Rommel, the three arrested knew they were working on behalf of China, but the university representatives did not.

The first phase of the cooperation provided for the study preparation on behalf of a Chinese partner, on state-of-the-art engine components that are important to the operation of marine, possibly warship, engines.

Behind the Chinese partner was actually the MSS employee. In return, special lasers were delivered to the MSS without a license, even though this particular product is subject to specific European Union regulations when it comes to Civil and Military Dual-Use Goods.

The arrest warrants were issued based on the findings of the Federal Constitution Protection Agency, the Federal Prosecutor’s Office points out in its announcement.