Germany investigates second US spy case a week after initial arrest
Police raid properties in Berlin area with soldier reportedly the target of authorities
German authorities are investigating a second spy case reportedly involving the US, a week after the arrest of a German intelligence employee cast a new shadow over relations between the two countries.
The new case, reported on Wednesday, was believed to be more serious than the first, the Sueddeutsche Zeitung daily said.
Federal prosecutors said police raided properties in the Berlin area on "initial suspicion of activity for an intelligence agency".
They did not elaborate or specify what intelligence agency was involved, but said they had not made an arrest.
"We have made investigations in two cases of suspected espionage - a very serious suspicion," government spokesman Steffen Seibert said. He declined to provide further details.
Sueddeutsche Zeitung reported, without naming sources, that the man being investigated worked at Germany's defence ministry and was suspected of spying for the US.
Die Welt newspaper reported, also without naming sources, the man was a soldier in the German army who had aroused the suspicion of the country's military counter-intelligence agency because of his close contacts to alleged US spies.