Iranian individual accused of espionage apprehended
In a significant development, the Federal Prosecutor's Office in Germany has placed a Danish national in investigative detention, accused of spying on Jewish sites and individuals in Berlin on behalf of Iran. The arrest, which took place in the Danish city of Aarhus on June 26, was a collaborative effort between German and Danish security services, without any reported official role for Mossad, the Israeli foreign intelligence agency.
The suspect, identified as Ali S., who has Afghan roots, is alleged to have been operating under the orders of the Al-Quds Brigades, the overseas unit of Iran's Revolutionary Guards. His alleged spying activities could potentially have been in preparation for attacks, and he is suspected of preparing arson attacks.
The arrest warrant against the Danish national was issued by the investigating judge of the Federal Court of Justice in Karlsruhe, and the suspect's activities are still under investigation by the German authorities. The headquarters of the German-Israeli Society was among the places where the suspect is said to have taken photos.
Reports suggest that the first tip about the Dane came from a friendly intelligence service abroad. After the arrest, the German Foreign Office summoned the Iranian ambassador. The Iranian embassy in Berlin called the allegations "unfounded and dangerous." Iran categorically rejected the allegations against the Danish national, describing them as part of a campaign to distract from Israel's war against Iran.
Israel attacked Iran on June 13 and bombed targets nationwide, citing the threat posed by Iran's controversial nuclear program as the reason for the attack. However, there is no information in the available sources indicating that Mossad was involved in the arrest of the suspect in Germany.
Several foreign services are reported to have cooperated with Germany in this matter. The state news agency Isna reported the Iranian embassy's response, stating that the embassy condemned the arrest and called for the immediate release of the detained individual.
The arrest follows an investigation by German prosecutors and was based on information provided by Germany’s domestic intelligence agency, the BfV. The suspect is accused of spying on Jewish sites and individuals in Berlin on behalf of Iranian intelligence, possibly to facilitate future attacks. The case is a reminder of the ongoing tensions between Israel and Iran and the vigilance required to ensure the safety and security of Jewish communities worldwide.
The suspect, Ali S., allegedly spied on Jewish sites and individuals in Berlin on behalf of Iran, potentially preparing for future attacks, which falls under the category of general-news and crime-and-justice. The headquarters of the German-Israeli Society was among the places where the suspect is said to have taken photos, highlighting the political implications of these actions.
