Authorities in Germany have arrested two Syrian government agents in Berlin on charges they were spying on suspected Syrian opposition activists in the country, Israel’s Channel 2 News reported on Tuesday.
Channel 2 cited reports in the German media which said that the two detainees, aged 47 and 34, are suspected of spying on behalf of the Syrian regime. One of them holds a Syrian citizenship while the other hold both a German and Lebanese citizenship, the report said. Both are suspected of having followed opposition activists living in Germany.
The two will be brought before a local judge on Wednesday, the report said. Six other people have been detained on suspicion of possible involvement in the case.
Channel 2 noted that Germany is one of the main countries in which there is a concentration of Syrian opposition activity. Dozens of activists, some of whom defected from President Bashar Assad’s regime in recent years, have resided in the country and in recent years have called to overthrow him.
The violence in Syria continued on Tuesday, as Assad resumed large-scale bombing and killing of citizens, primarily in the city of Homs, a center of anti-government strength.
Dissidents have posted videos showing constant bombing of homes, and many streets have been turned into virtual morgues and field hospitals.
The violence took place as Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov visited Damascus to push for reforms in an emergency meeting with Bashar Assad.
Assad reportedly told Lavrov that Syria is determined to hold a national dialogue with the opposition and independent figures, saying his government was “ready to cooperate with any effort that boosts stability in Syria.”