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Headline: French police arrest 2 Chinese citizens over alleged attempt to access military data
Short Summary: On February 14, 2024, French prosecutors in Paris announced the arrest of two Chinese citizens suspected of trying to capture sensitive French government and military data. The individuals were conducting satellite interception operations involving a Starlink satellite dish rented from an Airbnb in the Gironde region near Bordeaux. Neighbors reported installation of a roughly two-meter diameter satellite dish and unusual internet outages, prompting police notification. The device was reportedly used to illegally intercept satellite downlinks, including exchanges between vital military entities. The suspects indicated on their visa applications that they worked for a company specializing in smart beams, signal recognition, satellite networks, and military-oriented university projects. French authorities formally charged four people, with two remanded in custody, for acts of delivering information to a foreign power, punishable by up to 15 years in prison. POLITICO reached out to the Chinese Embassy in Paris for comment.
Extended Summary: On February 14, 2024, French prosecutors in Paris announced the arrest of two Chinese citizens suspected of trying to capture sensitive French government and military data. The individuals were conducting satellite interception operations involving a Starlink satellite dish rented from an Airbnb in the Gironde region near Bordeaux. Neighbors reported installation of a roughly two-meter diameter satellite dish and unusual internet outages, prompting police notification. The device was reportedly used to illegally intercept satellite downlinks, including exchanges between vital military entities. The suspects indicated on their visa applications that they worked for a company specializing in smart beams, signal recognition, satellite networks, and military-oriented university projects. French authorities formally charged four people, with two remanded in custody, for acts of delivering information to a foreign power, punishable by up to 15 years in prison. POLITICO reached out to the Chinese Embassy in Paris for comment.
French prosecutors in Paris opened an investigation on February 14, 2024, into allegations that two Chinese citizens tried to illegally capture sensitive French government and military data using Starlink satellite technology. Police were alerted after neighbors reported the installation of a large satellite dish—about two meters in diameter—on an Airbnb property rented by the suspects in the Gironde region near Bordeaux. The device was used to intercept satellite downlinks, including military communications of vital importance. The public prosecutor's office stated four individuals were charged, with two detained, on suspicion of delivering information to a foreign power, a crime punishable with up to 15 years imprisonment. The suspects reportedly worked for a company focusing on advanced satellite technologies and military-oriented university projects. POLITICO also contacted the Chinese Embassy in Paris for comment.
The event clearly describes hostile actions allegedly committed by Chinese nationals targeting sensitive French military data via unauthorized satellite interception, indicating aggressor activity. No defensive or preparatory actions by France or allies are described.
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