British embassy worker appears in Germany court accused of spying for Russia
ITV News Correspondent Ben Chapman reports from Berlin on the British embassy worker who has been arrested on suspicion of spying for Russia
A British embassy worker in Germany has appeared in court after being arrested earlier on suspicion of spying for Russia.
The 57-year-old man is suspected of selling documents to the Russian intelligence service in exchange for cash, according to German prosecutors.
The office said he was brought before an investigating judge of the Federal Court of Justice on Wednesday. The prosecutors understand the man, referred to only as "David S", has been working for the Russians since November 2020.
According to the prosecutors’ statement, the suspect – who worked as a local employee at the embassy – was arrested in the German town of Potsdam.
The statement also alleged the man forwarded "documents obtained in the course of his professional activities" to a representative of a Russian intelligence service.
It is claimed 'David S' received an unknown amount of cash in return for providing the information.
The office added the man's apartment and had been searched.
The German Foreign Ministry said it is taking the case “very seriously” and that any espionage activity against an allied state on German soil is “unacceptable”.
ITV News Correspondent Ben Chapman explains why German authorities are taking the lead in this case so far
A UK government spokesman said the suspect had been “contracted to work for the government”, while German prosecutors said he had been working as a “local employee” at the embassy.
His arrest is the result of a joint investigation by the Counter Terrorism Command for Britain's Metropolitan Police and German authorities.
In a statement, the Met said: “The man was arrested in the Berlin area on suspicion of committing offences relating to being engaged in ‘Intelligence Agent activity’ (under German law).
“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 Met’s Counter Terrorism Command is responsible for investigating alleged breaches of the Official Secrets Act.
A UK Government spokesman 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 comes at a time of continuing tensions between the UK and Russia which have been building for a number of years.
In June, a Royal Navy warship was buzzed by Russian fighter jets when it sailed through disputed waters off Crimea which was annexed by Moscow from Ukraine.
In 2018, Britain expelled 23 Russian intelligence officers following the poisoning attack on former spy Sergei Skripal in Salisbury, which persuaded allies to eject dozens of others.