Mole in intelligence agency German intelligence officer arrested over Islamist comments

COLOGNE/BERLIN · An employee of the German intelligence agency (BfV) has been uncovered as a supporter of radical Islam. He is suspected of planning an attack in Cologne.

The suspected Islamist was working in the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution (BfV), which is Germany’s domestic intelligence agency. A spokesperson there told “Spiegel” and “Welt” news publications that the man made Islamic statements on the internet and leaked internal agency information. He was hired in April of 2016 to observe the radical Islam scene in Germany, according to reports from “Spiegel.”

“Welt” reported that the man was planning a bomb attack on the intelligence headquarters in Cologne. “Spiegel” reported that he had already delivered a partial confession. According to the reports, his goal was to infiltrate the intelligence agency and collect information to plan a bomb attack on the agency in Chorweiler (northern Cologne). State prosecutors in Düsseldorf are preparing a case against the employee and indicated on Tuesday evening that up until now, they have no concrete evidence of an actual planned attack.

A spokesperson from the intelligence agency confirmed that the man had been arrested but would not confirm any plans for a bomb attack. The suspect had offered in internet chat rooms to give out sensitive information about the BfV, which could have endangered the agency. During his application process and training period, he had not appeared in any way conspicuous.

“Welt” reported that in questioning, the 51-year-old man had said it was in “accordance with the wishes of Allah” to plan such an attack. But he had apparently not planned anything concrete. Reports from “Spiegel” say he had come to the attention of authorities around four weeks ago.

In the internet chat, according to “Spiegel,” he identified himself as an intelligence agency employee and offered to bring other like-minded persons into the agency for an attack against the “unbelievers.” He didn’t realize that his chat partner was actually a member of the intelligence agency. The report from the publication says his family was not aware of his conversion to Islam, which took place in 2014. He apparently gave his oath to Salafist preacher Mohamed Mahmoud, who was involved in the radical scene in Berlin and is now fighting for ISIS in Syria.

(Orig. text: dpa)

Meistgelesen
Neueste Artikel
Zum Thema
Aus dem Ressort