Belgium has placed a Canadian intern at NATO headquarters in pretrial custody after prosecutors said she was suspected in a NATO spy probe linked to a third country. The case centers on work she did at the alliance’s military headquarters in Mons, where Belgian authorities say she was arrested after a tip from NATO security services.
Belgium’s Federal Prosecutor’s Office said the woman is suspected of spying on behalf of a foreign state and of belonging to a criminal organization. Prosecutors said the tip from NATO security services led to searches at both her home and workplace inside NATO headquarters. The woman has not been publicly identified in the material released by authorities, and officials have not said which third country is allegedly involved.
Belgian prosecutors told Euronews that the suspect was ordered to remain in custody for one month while the case moves forward. Reports described behavior that drew attention, including her presence near NATO buildings and questions she was said to have asked. Those details were part of the concern that ultimately brought the matter to the attention of investigators.
The intern worked at NATO’s Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe, known as Shape, which sits at the center of NATO’s Allied Command Operations. That command handles planning and execution of military operations for the alliance, of which both Canada and Belgium are members. NATO has not publicly commented in detail, but the alliance told US media that it remains committed to protecting personnel, classified information, and the trust that supports the organization.
