American in Germany charged with spying for Chinese intelligence

A US citizen who worked at a US military facility in Germany has been charged with espionage for allegedly offering sensitive information to China, prosecutors said today.

Defendant Martin D. was arrested in Frankfurt in November last year, and he is charged in the indictment with having stated that he was willing to engage in espionage for a foreign intelligence service, prosecutors claim.

He worked for a civilian contractor for the U.S. Department of Defense at an unidentified military facility in Germany from 2017 to 2023, according to a statement from the prosecutor's office.

He is accused of repeatedly contacting Chinese authorities during the summer of 2024 and offering sensitive information about the US military to that country's intelligence services.

German media reported that the suspect failed to pass on any information to Chinese authorities until his arrest.

The case has been forwarded to a court in Koblenz, in western Germany, which will decide when the trial will begin.