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BND headquarters in Berlin
Photo: IMAGO/Stefan Boness/Ipon / IMAGO/IPON
The suspected traitor in the ranks of the Federal Intelligence Service (BND) was exposed through a tip from a foreign partner.
According to SPIEGEL information, a Western intelligence service discovered data in the Russian apparatus several weeks ago that could be clearly assigned to the BND.
It is said to have been one or more documents that contained information about Russia.
Thanks to the warning from the foreign partner, BND security experts were able to identify the leak.
The suspected double agent is Carsten L., who worked as a department head in the "Technical Reconnaissance" department.
In his role, he had access to a wealth of highly sensitive documents.
A week ago, the Federal Criminal Police Office arrested Carsten L. in Berlin.
The Attorney General is investigating the official on suspicion of treason.
According to the Karlsruhe investigative authority, the information he betrayed to a Russian secret service was state secrets.
According to SPIEGEL information, another person who works at the BND was also targeted by the investigators as part of the investigation.
She is said to have opened documents on her work computer that are relevant to the investigation.
The Attorney General lists the person as the accused in the proceedings against Carsten L. However, those familiar with the investigation report that the suspicion against them has not been substantiated.
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.
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