Intelligence Operations Accused: GB.A
The Federal Prosecutor's Office has filed charges against Youssef El A., a Moroccan national, for espionage activity under the German Criminal Code (StGB). The charges were filed before the State Protection Senate of the Higher Regional Court of Düsseldorf on May 21, 2025.
According to information provided by The Federal Prosecutor General at the Federal Court of Justice (GBA), transmitted via news aktuell, Youssef El A. has been in custody in Germany since January 15, 2025, following his arrest in Spain on December 1, 2024.
The specific section and number of the Criminal Code under which the charges were filed is § 99 Abs. 1 Nr. 1. The indictment submitted against Youssef El A. includes specific facts related to the espionage activity. However, there is no available information about the connection between Youssef El A. and the DGED, the Moroccan foreign intelligence service.
It is alleged that Youssef El A. has been spying on members of the Hirak movement since at least January 2022. Meanwhile, Mohamed A., a co-accused, was commissioned by the DGED. Mohamed A.'s judgment is final, and he was sentenced to a suspended sentence of one year and nine months on August 31, 2023.
Inquiries about the case can be directed to Dr. Ines Peterson, Prosecutor at the BGH, at the Federal Court of Justice. Her contact information includes: Brauerstr. 30, 6135 Karlsruhe, Germany, phone: 0721 8191-4100, fax: 0721 8191-8492, email: [email protected], and website: http://www.generalbundesanwalt.de/.
The court hearing the case is the State Protection Senate of the Higher Regional Court of Düsseldorf. The press release regarding Youssef El A.'s arrest can be found at press release No. 5 of January 16, 2025.
