Iranian Spy Suspect Arrested in Denmark for Targeting Jews in Berlin
A Danish man of Afghan descent was arrested for allegedly spying on Jewish sites in Berlin for Iranian intelligence, raising fears of planned attacks. The incident highlights Iran’s ongoing targeting of Jewish communities in Europe, prompting strong condemnation from German Jewish leaders.
A Danish citizen of Afghan descent, identified as Ali S., was arrested in Aarhus, Denmark, for allegedly spying on Jewish targets in Berlin on behalf of Iranian intelligence. The German Federal Prosecutor in Karlsruhe announced that Ali S. is suspected of gathering intelligence on Jewish institutions and individuals, including the German-Israel Society’s headquarters and a building occasionally visited by the head of the Central Council of Jews in Germany. The suspect, apprehended on June 26, 2025, is accused of photographing these sites in June under orders from a special unit of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) to prepare for potential attacks. He faces extradition to Germany, where a federal judge will decide on his custody.
The arrest has heightened alarm over Iran’s escalating hostility toward Jewish communities in Europe. Josef Schuster, chair of the Central Council of Jews in Germany, called it a “wake up call to those who continue to downplay the hatred and annihilationist ideology of the mullah regime toward Israel and Jews around the world.” Volker Beck, president of the German-Israel Society and a Green Party politician, condemned Iran’s actions, stating, “Iran’s plans show the terrorist nature of this regime.” The incident follows a pattern of Iranian espionage in Germany, including a 2017 case where a Pakistani-born student was jailed for four years for spying on Reinhold Robbe, a former German parliament member and German-Israel Society head. Since 2023, several prominent German Jews have received police protection due to intelligence about Iranian hit lists targeting Jewish figures.
Germany, home to 200,000 Jews, has seen a 50% spike in antisemitic incidents since October 2023, with 2,500 reported cases in 2024. The arrest coincides with heightened tensions after Iran’s June 2025 missile attacks on Israel, underscoring the IRGC’s global reach. Danish authorities are cooperating with Germany’s ongoing investigation to prevent further threats.