German trio arrested for allegedly spying for China

On Monday, the prosecutor's office announced the arrest of three German citizens suspected of spying for China. According to the newspaper "Die Welt", two men and one woman might have worked for the Chinese intelligence service, MSS, since at least 2022.

The arrested individuals are Thomas R. and the married couple Herwig and Ina F. They were apprehended in Duesseldorf and Bad Homburg, where they resided. The operations included searches of their homes and workplaces as part of the investigation.

The main suspect, Thomas R., is reported to have had contact with an employee from the Ministry of State Security in China. According to "Spiegel" magazine, R. gathered information on "innovative technologies useful for military purposes" being developed in Germany.

Thomas R. is believed to have collaborated with Herwig and Ina F., who operated a business in Duesseldorf. The investigation suggests that this company was an "intermediary in establishing contacts and cooperation" with German scientists and researchers. This collaboration included signing a "cooperation agreement" with one of the German universities.

The prosecutor's office disclosed that the information transferred to the Chinese intelligence covered, among other things, advanced machine components that could be utilized in engines, for example, for warships.

Furthermore, the suspects allegedly acquired a special laser in Germany on behalf of MSS and transported it to China without the necessary authorization, as reported by "Spiegel".