Morocco denies links to alleged spy arrested in Germany

Moroccan authorities have no connection to a national detained in Germany on suspicion of spying on supporters of the Al-Hirak al-Shaabi protest movement, an official told AFP. The man, identified as Youssef El A., was arrested at Frankfurt airport on Wednesday and faces charges of working for Moroccan intelligence. He was arrested in Spain in December 2024 on an EU arrest warrant and later extradited to Germany. 

A Moroccan security source refuted the allegations, describing the suspect as a "radical activist" hostile to Morocco and linked to separatists in the Rif region. The source insisted he had no affiliation with Moroccan intelligence.

German prosecutors tied the case to another Moroccan convicted of espionage in 2023, who reportedly exchanged information for airline tickets.

The Hirak movement emerged in the Rif region in 2016 following anger over the death of a fishmonger. It sparked protests demanding development projects for the long-marginalized region, which led to dozens of arrests.