A Chinese-Canadian woman who was a trainee at NATO’s military headquarters in Belgium has been arrested on charges of espionage, Belgian prosecutors said on Saturday.
“She is suspected of spying for a third country and is a member of a criminal organization,” the Federal Prosecutor’s Office said in a statement.
The statement stated that the woman worked as a trainee at NATO’s Supreme Headquarters (SHAPE) in the Belgian city of Mons. She did not provide further details about her identity or the country or organization for which she was suspected of spying.
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SHAPE is NATO’s supreme military headquarters, Allied Command operating base, and is responsible for the planning and execution of all operations of the 32-member Transatlantic Security Alliance.
The suspect came to the attention of SHAPE’s security services, who reported her to Belgian intelligence officials, according to the prosecutor’s statement.
Investigators searched the suspect’s home and workplace at SHAPE, and she was placed under arrest on Friday.
A SHAPE spokesman said there was no indication that NATO or SHAPE operational readiness, command and control arrangements or ongoing missions had been affected.
“SHAPE continues to fulfill its responsibilities without interruption,” he said.
The district attorney’s office said it would not comment further as the investigation continues.
