BERLIN (Reuters) – German prosecutors ordered a search of the Brussels offices of a member of the European Parliament for the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) on Tuesday after an aide was arrested in Germany last month on suspicion of espionage for China.
The case of the aide to Maximilian Krah has fueled concern in Europe about being a target for Chinese spying activities.
Germany also last month arrested three people over funnelling sensitive technology to China for military purposes.
It has also dented AfD support in polls before elections for the European assembly in June. Krah is the AfD’s lead candidate.
“The measures are part of the proceedings against Jian G. on suspicion of acting as an intelligence agent,” the German prosecutors said, adding authorities had searched both Krah’s office and that of the former aide.
One of the former aide’s flats in Brussels had been searched on April 24, added the prosecutors in Karlsruhe.
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Krah confirmed the searches of his former aide’s office on social media platform X.
“This was to be expected after his arrest and is therefore not at all surprising… Neither I nor other employees are affected,” he wrote.
At the time of the arrest, Krah said he learned of the arrest from the media and denied personal wrongdoing.
(Reporting by Madeline Chambers; Editing by Miranda Murray)
Copyright 2024 Thomson Reuters.
