The British embassy employee suspected of spying for Russia has been arrested.
According to the Counter Terrorism Command of London’s Metropolitan Police, the 57-year-old, identified only as David S, was arrested in the Berlin area on Tuesday as part of a joint British-German investigation.
The accused is suspected to have secretly passed documents to a Russian intelligence service in exchange for money since November last year
Germany’s federal prosecutor said in a statement that the suspect’s alleged offenses are related to “being engaged in ‘Intelligence Agent activity’ under German law”.
According to the German statement, his apartment and workplace have been searched and he will be brought before an investigating judge later today.
“Primacy for the investigation remains with German authorities. Officers from the Counter Terrorism Command continue to liaise with German counterparts as the investigation continues,” the Metropolitan Police said in a statement.
Germany’s foreign ministry said it will taking the case “very seriously” and that spying on allied states on German soil is unacceptable.
The Metropolitan Police said the 57-year-old had been arrested “on suspicion of committing offences relating to being engaged in ‘Intelligence Agent activity’ (under German law)”.
The force’s counter terrorism command is responsible for investigating alleged breaches of the Official Secrets Act.
David S is expected to appear at the Federal Court of Justice in Germany later.
A UK government spokesperson said: “An individual who was contracted to work for the government was arrested yesterday by the German authorities.
“It would not be appropriate to comment further as there is an ongoing police investigation.”
The arrest is said to have raised “questions” over who is in charge of security issues in government.
The security minister post has been vacant for more than a month after James Peter Brokenshire, the British politician who served as Minister of State for Security at the Home Office from 2020 stepped down this year to focus on his cancer recovery.