Danish man arrested, accused of gathering information on Jews in Berlin for Iran

A Danish man has been arrested in Denmark on allegations of gathering information on Jews and Jewish locations in Berlin for Iranian intelligence, German prosecutors said Tuesday.

A man identified as Ali S. was arrested Thursday in Aarhus, Denmark, federal prosecutors said in a statement, the Associated Press reported. An Iranian intelligence service early this year allegedly tasked the Danish national with gathering information on “Jewish localities and specific Jewish individuals” in Berlin, according to prosecutors.

The man allegedly spied on three properties in June, “presumably in preparation of further intelligence activities in Germany, possibly including terrorist attacks on Jewish targets,” prosecutors said.

German Justice Minister Stefanie Hubig said in a statement, “If this suspicion is confirmed, we are dealing with an outrageous operation,” later adding that “the protection of Jewish life has the highest priority for the German government.”

Ali S. is accused of working for an intelligence service of a foreign power. Germany's domestic intelligence service had gathered the information leading to his arrest, according to prosecutors. After being extradited from Denmark to Germany, a judge will determine whether he will be kept in custody pending formal charges.