German intelligence officer arrested on suspicion of spying for Russia

BERLIN

A German intelligence officer has been arrested on suspicion of spying for Russia, authorities said on Thursday.

Carsten L., an employee of the Federal Intelligence Service (BND), has been arrested in Berlin, the Federal Prosecutor's Office said in a statement.

The BND employee provided the Russian intelligence service with “state secrets” that he obtained during his professional activity, according to the statement.

The police carried out searches at the suspect’s house and workplace, it said.

A judge at the Federal Court of Justice later ordered pre-trial detention of the suspect over accusations of “state treason” and passing state secrets to Russia.

The BND’s president Bruna Kahl said in a statement that the intelligence service launched an internal investigation as soon as it became aware of a possible case of treason and later informed the Federal Prosecutor's Office.

He, however, declined to give any further details, arguing that any detail on the investigation could give an advantage to the Russian side.