An intern of NATO’s military headquarters was arrested on suspicion of spying, Belgian authorities said on Saturday. The suspect, a Canadian woman of Chinese origin, was working at Shape, the alliance’s strategic command centre near Mons. Belgian military intelligence and federal police began an investigation after officials at Shape raised suspicions. The intern’s home and workplace were searched on Thursday, and she was arrested the following day.

A statement from the Belgian Federal Prosecutor’s Office on Friday, 24 July 2026, said the intern was served with an arrest warrant. She is alleged to have been spying on behalf of a third country and to belong to a criminal organisation. The prosecutor did not name the woman or the country she is suspected of representing.

Shape spokesperson Martin O’Donnell said there was no indication that NATO’s operational readiness or command and control arrangements had been affected. “Shape continues to fulfil its responsibilities without interruption,” he added.

Belgium has a history of foreign espionage attempts. Last year a Chinese cyber‑attack targeted its intelligence services, and a Belgian police officer was detained for spying for China and Russia.