Four suspected of spying for China in west France
Suspicions were raised after neighbours spotted and reported the installation of a two-metre-wide satellite dish
The men – two of whom are Chinese citizens – are suspected of gathering military data
MMES Studio/Shutterstock
Four men suspected of spying for China have been arrested in western France after they allegedly installed a device capable of intercepting military communications in their garden.
The men – two of whom are Chinese citizens – are suspected of gathering military data in order to send it to Beijing, and now risk up to 15 years in prison. The two other arrested men are suspected of helping the Chinese nationals to import devices.
The group was arrested in Gironde (Nouvelle-Aquitaine) after residents noticed a two-metre wide satellite dish in the garden of their rented house in the 3,000-inhabitant commune of Camblanes-et-Meynac.
The Paris prosecutor has now opened an investigation into the alleged crime of “providing information to a foreign power, a foreign company or organisation, or one under foreign control, or to their agents, in a manner likely to harm the fundamental interests of the nation”.
Satellite dish in small town
Following reports of the large satellite dish in the property’s garden, local authorities referred the case to the French security and counter-espionage agency the Direction Générale de la Sécurité Intérieure (DGSI).
Subsequent investigations found a series of computers connected to the satellite dish, which reportedly enabled the residents to use the device to intercept messages between “vitally important military entities”, said the Paris prosecutor on February 5.
The Chinese nationals had originally come to France claiming that they were working as engineers for a wireless communications research company.
