A midlevel staffer in Germany’s Federal Press Office was secretly working for the Egyptian secret service for years, according to a government report.
The report was presented on Thursday by Interior Minister Horst Seehofer. The man has not been named, although he reportedly worked for the visitor service of the press office, according to Bild. Seehofer’s report claims that German authorities carried out “executive measures” against him last December, and the office where he worked was searched.
“There are indications that Egyptian services are trying to recruit Egyptians living in Germany for intelligence purposes through their visits to Egyptian diplomatic missions in Germany and their trips to Egypt,” the report read.
Steffen Seibert, who is the spokesman for Chancellor Angela Merkel and heads the press office, declined to comment about “ongoing investigations or on personnel matters,” according to DW News.
Germany’s federal public prosecutor confirmed the man has been charged with espionage and that the investigation into his ties to Egypt and his role as a spy are ongoing.
