Spy case threatens to sour German-US relations

BERLIN: German-US relations are facing a new test over a German intelligence employee who reportedly spied for the US, with Germany’s president saying if the allegations are true, that kind of spying on allies must stop. Prosecutors say a 31-year-old German was arrested last week on suspicion of spying for foreign intelligence services, and that he allegedly handed over 218 documents between 2012 and 2014. German media, without naming sources, have repor­ted he was an employee of Germany’s foreign intelligence service who says he sold his services to the US Germany’s Foreign Ministry summoned the US ambassador on Friday to help clarify the case. The country’s top security official stepped up the pressure on Sunday. “I expect everyone now to assist quickly in clearing up the accusations — and quick and clear statements, from the USA too,” Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere was quoted as saying in Bild newspaper. The issue threatens to strain German-US relations again after earlier reports that the National Security Agency spied on Germans, including on Chancellor Angela Merkel’s cellphone. If it turns out the US “gave this kind of assignment to one of our intelligence empl­oyees, then it really has to be said: That’s enough now,” Presi­dent Joachim Gauck said on ZDF television. The head of a parliamentary committee investigating the activities of US and allied spies, Patrick Sensburg, said he has no information that documents from the panel were spied on, but government documents destined for the committee may have been. The US Central Intelli­g­ence Agency and the Natio­nal Security Council have declined to comment. Published in Dawn, July 7th, 2014