Investigators in the northern German state of Schleswig-Holstein are looking into a possible espionage case after a Chinese national broke into a naval base earlier this month.
The incident took place on December 9, said a spokesperson for the State Criminal Police Office (LKA) in Kiel on Wednesday.
It is said that the man gained access to the naval base in Kiel and took pictures.
The Flensburg public prosecutor's office, which is responsible for state security matters, is the lead agency in the case. He could not immediately be reached for comment.
The German broadcaster WDR said that the man is suspected of taking pictures of military installations in a way that endangers security.
The man, who has not been named, is said to be in pre-trial custody. He was picked up by security personnel, who handed him over to the police.
The man's mobile phone and other items are currently being searched. The Federal Office for Military Counter-Intelligence is also involved in the investigation.
Investigators are also looking into the question of whether the suspect may be working for a foreign secret service and took the photos for espionage purposes.
