Canadian Citizen of Chinese Origin Arrested for Spying at NATO Headquarters in Belgium

Belgian authorities have arrested a Canadian citizen of Chinese origin suspected of conducting espionage for a third country while serving as an intern at NATO. The suspect was detained in Belgium on Thursday following an investigation into her activities at the alliance’s Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE) in Mons.

The Federal Prosecutor’s Office confirmed the arrest on Saturday, stating the individual is suspected of spying on behalf of a third country and membership in a criminal organization. The investigation was triggered after SHAPE security services flagged the intern’s behavior and reported the matter to the General Intelligence and Security Service.

Following the report, the prosecutor’s office tasked the federal judicial police in Charleroi with the investigation. Officers conducted searches of the suspect’s home and workplace on Thursday, and a magistrate subsequently served an arrest warrant on Friday.

Investigation into SHAPE Security Breach

The arrest centers on the security of the Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE), the top military command of NATO. According to the Federal Prosecutor’s Office, the intern came to the attention of internal security services before the case was handed over to Belgian national intelligence. While the prosecutor’s office confirmed the espionage suspicions, officials have not yet specified the nature of the information allegedly targeted or the identity of the “third country” involved.

NATO. Photo: NATO.

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