Canadian Intern Detained at NATO HQ Over Espionage Allegations

Belgium authorities announced Saturday that a Canadian intern working at NATO’s military headquarters has been arrested on suspicion of spying for a foreign power.

The Belgian Federal Prosecutor’s Office identified the detainee as a woman of Chinese origin, arrested Friday. She is alleged to have spied on behalf of an unidentified third country and to be a member of an undisclosed criminal organization, the statement said, without naming either the country or the group.

She was initially identified by security personnel at the Supreme Headquarters Allied Command Europe (SHAPE), located near Mons, Belgium. The matter was then handed to Belgian intelligence, prompting a police investigation, the federal prosecutor’s office said.

The investigation resulted in searches of her residence and workplace on Thursday. A judge ordered her detention on Friday, the prosecutor’s office confirmed, adding that it would provide no further details at this time.

Canada’s Foreign Ministry and its embassy in Brussels have not yet responded to requests for comment.

SHAPE, which conducts NATO’s strategic planning and operational execution, has been cooperating with Belgian authorities, according to SHAPE spokesman Colonel Martin O’Donnell.

There is no evidence to date that NATO or SHAPE’s operational readiness, command and control functions, or ongoing missions have been compromised, he added.

Lara Jakes contributed reporting.

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