German authorities have issued arrest warrants for three people believed to have carried out espionage attacks in favor of China .
The full names of the defendants were not released by the Federal Prosecutor's Office. The three suspects are known as Herwig F., Ina F. and Thomas R.
Authorities believe the suspects were working for a Chinese secret service before June 2022.
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Thomas R.is believed to have acted as an agent for Ministry of State Security (MSS), collecting information about innovative technologies in Germany. These technologies could be exploited by China for military purposes. The defendant is said to have sought the help of a married couple, Herwig F. and Ina F. (the other two suspects). The couple ran a business, based in Düsseldorf, that established connections with the scientific and research community in Germany.
As part of the espionage, the two apparently made a deal with a German university to conduct a study (for an unnamed Chinese contractor) on the operation of high-performance marine engines for use on warships.
"At the time of their arrest, the defendants were in further negotiations for research projects that could be useful for expanding China's maritime military power," the agency said.
See also: South Korean arrested in Russia for cyber espionage
In addition, German authorities say the three defendants purchased a special laser from Germany and exported it to China without a license.
Germany recently announced the arrest of another citizen, Jian G, for acting as a Chinese intelligence agent while working for a German member of the European Parliament. He was also spying on Chinese opposition members in Germany on behalf of the intelligence service.
Germany takes espionage very seriously, implementing strict laws and regulations. German authorities have the power to issue arrest warrants for suspected spies and bring them to justice.
The country has a special department responsible for monitoring and combating espionage. In addition, it works closely with other countries and international organizations to address this threat. This includes exchanging information, cooperating in investigative work, and taking joint action against suspects.
See also: US charges Iranian hacker with cyber espionage
Finally, Germany seeks to prevent espionage through education and awareness. German authorities are trying to inform the public about the dangers of espionage and ways to protect themselves from it.
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Source: thehackernews.com
