The Washington PostDemocracy Dies in Darkness

Germany arrests staffer at E.U. Parliament over China spying suspicion

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April 23, 2024 at 8:55 a.m. EDT
Flags flutter outside the European Parliament in Strasbourg, France, on Sept. 12, 2023. (Yves Herman/Reuters)
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BERLIN — German authorities have detained the aide of a far-right European lawmaker on suspicion of spying for China in the city of Dresden, prosecutors said in a statement. The European Parliament said Tuesday that it has suspended the person in question “with immediate effect.”

The aide was arrested Monday amid mounting concern in Europe over Chinese espionage activity. Less than 24 hours earlier, three other German nationals were detained on suspicion of having worked for a Chinese intelligence service. Britain also charged two men on Monday with spying for China.