German Intelligence Warns of Iranian Cyber Spying

German police carry out raids against suspected Iranian spies, January 2018. (Reuters)
German police carry out raids against suspected Iranian spies, January 2018. (Reuters)
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German Intelligence Warns of Iranian Cyber Spying

German police carry out raids against suspected Iranian spies, January 2018. (Reuters)
German police carry out raids against suspected Iranian spies, January 2018. (Reuters)

The annual report of the German Federal Intelligence Service warned against Iran’s increasing use of IT infrastructures to access sensitive information with the aim to circumvent sanctions.

There are increased cyber activities by Iran in Germany, the 388-page report said, detailing the internal threats faced in the country. The report pointed to Iran’s increasing ability in recent years to launch cyber-attacks, which it said were linked to tensions in the Gulf region.

The aim of these attacks is to “circumvent the sanctions imposed on Iran and to provide decision-makers with basic information about the planned political maneuvers,” it underlined.

The intelligence report also spoke of widespread activity by Iranian intelligence and the Revolutionary Guards’ Quds Force within German soil, adding that espionage operations were conducted against Jewish, pro-Jewish and Israeli targets.

“Even if there is no explicit danger against precise persons or targets, it can be assumed that these spies are present to carry out operations and attacks against specific targets,” it emphasized.

It also pointed to the Islamic Center in Hamburg, which is considered “the most important representation of Iran in Germany”, in addition to the Iranian embassy. The report said that the center has established a national network of contacts within many Shiite mosques and societies and exerts a significant influence on them.

On Turkish intelligence activity in Germany, the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution warned of the Turkish intelligence services’ ability to easily recruit agents in Germany “because of the large number of the Turkish community,” which accounts for about 4 million people.

The report said that there were 9,000 Turkish spies were working for Ankara intelligence pursue Kurdish opponents and supporters of cleric Fethullah Gulen around the world.

On the Lebanese Hezbollah’s threats, the report said: “We must expect the party to continue planning terrorist acts.”

It added that there were 1,050 members belonging to Hezbollah in Germany - the same number that the report mentioned in the previous year.

On the other hand, the federal intelligence monitored an increase in the number of the Muslim Brotherhood by about 300 members. Those accounted for 1,350 members inside Germany in 2019, compared to 1,040 in 2018.

The German Islamic Group, with its headquarters in Cologne, is classified as the most important organization for Brotherhood supporters in Germany.



UN: Record 281 Aid Workers Killed in 2024

The UN agency for Palestinian refugees has seen more than 200 staff killed since the Gaza war began. Eyad BABA / AFP/File
The UN agency for Palestinian refugees has seen more than 200 staff killed since the Gaza war began. Eyad BABA / AFP/File
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UN: Record 281 Aid Workers Killed in 2024

The UN agency for Palestinian refugees has seen more than 200 staff killed since the Gaza war began. Eyad BABA / AFP/File
The UN agency for Palestinian refugees has seen more than 200 staff killed since the Gaza war began. Eyad BABA / AFP/File

A staggering 281 aid workers have been killed around the world so far this year, making 2024 the deadliest year for humanitarians, the UN aid chief said Friday.
"Humanitarian workers are being killed at an unprecedented rate, their courage and humanity being met with bullets and bombs," said Tom Fletcher, the United Nations' new under-secretary-general for humanitarian affairs and emergency relief coordinator.
With more than a month left to go of 2024, the "grim milestone was reached", he said, after 280 humanitarians were killed across 33 countries during all of 2023.
"This violence is unconscionable and devastating to aid operations," Fletcher said.
Israel's devastating war in Gaza was driving up the numbers, his office said, with 333 aid workers killed there -- most from the UN agency supporting Palestinian refugees, UNRWA -- since Hamas's October 7, 2023 attacks, which sparked the war, AFP reported.
"States and parties to conflict must protect humanitarians, uphold international law, prosecute those responsible, and call time on this era of impunity," Fletcher said.
Aid workers were subject to kidnappings, injuries, harassment and arbitrary detention in a range of countries, his office said, including Afghanistan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Sudan, and Ukraine.
The majority of deaths involve local staff working with non-governmental organizations, UN agencies and the Red Cross Red Crescent movement, Fletcher's office said.
"Violence against humanitarian personnel is part of a broader trend of harm to civilians in conflict zones," it warned.
"Last year, more than 33,000 civilian deaths were recorded in 14 armed conflicts -- a staggering 72 per cent increase from 2022."
The UN Security Council adopted a resolution last May in response to the surging violence and threats against aid workers.
The text called for recommendations from the UN chief -- set to be presented at a council meeting next week -- on measures to prevent and respond to such incidents and to increase protection for humanitarian staff and accountability for abuses.