German authorities have arrested three alleged spies believed to have collected sensitive naval intel and acquired a high-powered laser for Chinese secret services.
The main suspect, Tomas Reichenbach, 59, was apprehended in his apartment in the town of Bad Homburg, in the German state of Hesse, on Monday, 22nd April.
His alleged accomplices, Ina Fischer, 68, and Herwig Fischer, 72, were arrested at their luxurious home in Tolouser Allee, in Dusseldorf, North Rhine-Westphalia, which also served as their company’s main office, according to local media.
The couple reportedly ran a London-based branch of the firm Innovative Dragon Ltd., where Reichenback served as the Head of Investor Relations.
It is believed that the trio provided the Chinese Secret Service with information including designs for an engine suitable for use on combat ships.
According to the Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA), it started “at a point in time that cannot be precisely determined before June 2022.”
Reichenbach allegedly acted as an agent for an employee of the Chinese secret service MSS.
BKA said in a statement obtained by Newsflash: “On behalf of this person, Thomas R. obtained information in Germany on innovative technologies that could be used for military purposes.
“To do this, he made use of the couple Herwig F. and Ina F., who run a company from Duesseldorf.”
Prosecutors suspect that the company was used as a means to contact and collaborate with German scientists and researchers.
They continued: “The couple concluded a cooperation agreement with a German university for science transfer through their company.
“In the first phase, the subject was the preparation of a study for a Chinese contractual partner on the state-of-the-art machine parts that are also important for the operation of powerful ship engines, for example in combat ships.
“Behind the Chinese contractual partner was the MSS employee from whom Thomas R. received his orders; The project was financed by Chinese state authorities.
“At the time of their arrest, the accused were in further negotiations about research projects that could be useful for expanding China’s maritime combat power.”
Prosecutors said that the accused bought a special laser from Germany on behalf of and with payment from the MSS.
They then allegedly exported it to China without authorisation despite the item being subject to the European Union’s Dual-Use Regulation, thus violating the German Foreign Trade and Payments Act.
Both the homes and workplaces of the suspects were searched following their arrest.
BKA said: “The present proceedings are largely based on findings from the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution.
“The accused will be brought before the investigating judge at the Federal Court of Justice today and tomorrow, who will issue them with arrest warrants and decide on the execution of their pre-trial detention.”
After the three arrests, Federal Minister of Justice Marco Buschmann, 46, wrote on X, formerly Twitter: “The Federal Prosecutor General today arrested three people on suspicion of scientific espionage for China and a violation of the Foreign Trade Act.
“I congratulate the Federal Prosecutor General on this investigative success. This shows once again that we must be vigilant.”
The German Minister of The Interior, Nancy Faeser, 53, said: “​​We are aware of the considerable danger posed by Chinese espionage to business, industry and science.
“We are looking very closely at these risks and threats and have issued clear warnings and raised awareness so that protective measures are increased everywhere.”
Separately, the UK authorities announced on Monday that two individuals had been apprehended and accused of breaching the Official Secrets Act by allegedly sharing information with China that could be “useful to an enemy”.
To find out more about the author, editor or agency that supplied this story – please click below.
Story By: Georgina Jadikovska, Sub-Editor: Joseph Golder, Agency: Newsflash
The Ananova page is created by and dedicated to professional, independent freelance journalists. It is a place for us to showcase our work. When our news is sold to our media partners, we will include the link here.
