THE GERMAN GOVERNMENT ANNOUNCED final week the arrest of a person believed to have acted as a courier between Russian intelligence and one other German spy, who was arrested in December and is awaiting trial. The brand new arrest is certain to draw much more worldwide consideration to this unfolding case of espionage, whose urgency has reportedly alarmed Western intelligence providers.

On December 22, German authorities arrested a senior German intelligence official, who has been charged with treason and stays in custody. The official, named solely as “Carsten L.”, in compliance with Germany’s strict privateness legal guidelines, labored within the alerts intelligence (SIGINT) wing of the Federal Intelligence Service (BND). As Germany’s international intelligence company, the BND is tasked with accumulating intelligence on international targets, a mission that makes it broadly equal to the US Central Intelligence Company (CIA).

As intelNews reported earlier this month, Carsten L.’s seniority inside the BND allowed him to entry a number of compartmentalized areas of data, together with secrets and techniques shared with the BND by different Western intelligence businesses. Because of this, it was reported that some Western intelligence officers have been “most incensed” with this case. One supply reported that British intelligence leaders have been “contemplating whether or not they may proceed to supply the BND with their most delicate data”.

Now a second arrest has come to arguably add to the gravity of this case. On January 22, the German Federal Legal Police Workplace introduced the arrest of “Arthur E.”, who was captured on the Munich Worldwide Airport. Apparently, Arthur E. is a German citizen who has German-Russian background. In keeping with the press launch issued by the German authorities, Arthur E. was arrested by means of a collaborative effort between the BND and the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). Apparently, the FBI grew to become suspicious when Arthur E. tried to frantically depart the US after Carsten L.’s arrest.

Not like his alleged confederate, Arthur E. will not be an worker of the BND. He reportedly offers in treasured stones and metals. Exactly how he got here to know Carsten L. —allegedly in 2020— stays unknown. He’s accused, nevertheless, of performing as a courier between his alleged confederate and “a Russian intelligence company”. In keeping with the German authorities, Arthur E. obtained labeled data from Carsten L. after which bodily traveled to Russia, the place he “transmitted the data” to Russian intelligence. He has been charged with treason and is being held in pre-trial detention. Sources declare he’s keenly collaborating with German authorities.

► Writer: Joseph Fitsanakis | Date: 31 January 2023 | Analysis credit score: IFR | Permalink