Camilla Jessen
Here’s what we know so far.
German authorities say a former U.S. military contractor tried to pass sensitive defense information to Beijing.
Here’s what we know so far.
U.S. Civilian Contractor Indicted for Espionage
German federal prosecutors have charged an American citizen with attempting to commit espionage by offering classified U.S. military information to Chinese intelligence services.
This information comes from an official statement released Monday and reported by Reuters.
The Accused
The accused, referred to as Martin D. under Germany’s strict data protection laws, allegedly approached Chinese state entities multiple times in mid-2024 while living and working in Germany.
He is currently being held in pre-trial detention following his arrest in November 2024.
Contact with Chinese State Authorities
The German Federal Prosecutor’s Office stated that Martin D. made repeated attempts to offer sensitive military information to Chinese special services while working on a U.S. military base.
The man was employed by a civilian contractor for the U.S. Department of Defense from 2017 to early 2023, and he remained active at the base in some capacity through at least 2020, authorities said.
In the summer of 2024, while still in Germany, he allegedly reached out directly to Chinese state authorities, offering them information related to U.S. military operations and infrastructure.
Serious Espionage Charges
“The accused is sufficiently suspected of having declared his willingness to engage in espionage activities for a foreign intelligence service in a particularly serious case,” Federal prosecutors stated.
The State Security Division of the Higher Regional Court in Koblenz will now decide whether to accept the charges and proceed with a trial.
If convicted, Martin D. could face prison time under Germany’s national security laws.
Continued Investigation
According to local reports, German authorities are continuing their investigation into the case.
No further details have been released regarding the specific nature of the information Martin D. may have attempted to share.
