Berlin (Reuters) – According to a media report, the suspected state traitor in the Federal Intelligence Service (BND) was unmasked by a tip from a foreign partner.
A Western news service discovered data in the Russian apparatus several weeks ago that could clearly be assigned to the BND, the “Spiegel” reported on Wednesday. It is said to have been one or more documents that contained information about Russia. With the warning, BND security experts were able to identify the leak. The BND and the Federal Public Prosecutor’s Office declined to comment.
Federal prosecutors arrested a BND employee last week on alleged espionage for Russia. He is accused of treason. Carsten L. is said to have transmitted information that was a state secret to a Russian intelligence service this year. In addition, the apartment and workplace of the accused and another person were searched, the Attorney General said shortly before Christmas.
The federal government, like the BND and the other security authorities, takes the case very seriously, said a spokeswoman for Chancellor Olaf Scholz. The investigative authorities are supported comprehensively in the clarification. “The Federal Chancellery and the Federal Chancellor were involved in this case at an early stage.” The government spokeswoman did not want to comment further, but emphasized: “It is very important that details of this process are not made public, so that the Russian side may not be given the opportunity to draw any conclusions from it.”
The “Spiegel” reported that the alleged double agent worked as a head of department in the “Technical Reconnaissance” department. Another person who works at the BND is said to have opened documents on their work computer that are relevant to the investigation. However, the suspicion against this person should not have been substantiated, the news magazine reported, citing those familiar with the investigation. It is now considered unlikely that this person also worked for a Russian secret service. It is more likely that the alleged double agent L. tried to divert suspicion from himself, it said.
(Report by Klaus Lauer; Edited by Hans Busemann; If you have any questions, please contact our editorial team at [email protected] (for politics and the economy) or [email protected] (for companies and markets).)