Danish National Arrested for Allegedly Spying on Jewish Targets in Berlin for Iranian Intelligence

The Iranian flag flies in front of the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Berlin, June 22, 2025. (Fabian Sommer/dpa via AP) (ASSOCIATED PRESS)

A Danish man suspected of spying on Jewish sites and individuals in Berlin on behalf of Iranian intelligence has been arrested in Denmark, German federal prosecutors confirmed Tuesday. The suspect, identified only as Ali S. under German privacy laws, was detained last Thursday in Aarhus, Denmark, following a joint intelligence operation.

According to prosecutors, Ali S. was recruited by an Iranian intelligence service earlier this year and instructed to collect detailed information on Jewish institutions and specific individuals in the German capital. The suspect reportedly conducted surveillance on three different properties in June, allegedly in preparation for further intelligence activities — including the potential for terrorist attacks against Jewish targets in Germany.

Authorities say the intelligence gathered by the suspect suggests plans for a possible escalation into acts of violence. German Justice Minister Stefanie Hubig condemned the alleged operation as deeply disturbing, stating, “If this suspicion is confirmed, we are dealing with an outrageous operation. The protection of Jewish life has the highest priority for the German government.”

The arrest was made possible with information provided by Germany’s domestic intelligence agency. Prosecutors said the suspect faces charges of acting on behalf of a foreign intelligence service, a serious offense under German national security law.

Due to recent tensions in the Middle East — particularly the 12-day war between Iran and Israel in June — German authorities have significantly increased security at Jewish and Israeli-affiliated institutions across the country.

The extradition process for Ali S. is underway. He will be transferred to Germany where a judge will determine whether he remains in custody while formal charges are prepared. No specific timeline for extradition has been provided.

Germany maintains a close alliance with Israel and has long had a strained relationship with Iran, especially in light of Tehran’s controversial intelligence operations on European soil. Despite efforts by Germany and other EU powers to pursue diplomatic engagement with Iran over its nuclear ambitions, Berlin’s patience has worn thin in recent years.

In October, Germany ordered the closure of all three Iranian consulates within its borders following the execution of German-Iranian dissident Jamshid Sharmahd by Iranian authorities. Sharmahd, who had lived in the U.S., was abducted by Iranian security agents in Dubai in 2020 and later sentenced to death. The closures left only the Iranian embassy in Berlin as Tehran’s remaining diplomatic outpost in Germany.