**France Arrests Latvian for Installing Malware on Italian Ferry**

French authorities have made a significant arrest in a high-stakes cyber espionage case, charging a Latvian crew member with conspiring to infiltrate the computer systems of an Italian passenger ferry. The suspect, who was recently hired by the shipping company Grandi Navi Veloci (GNV), is accused of installing malware that could have allowed them to remotely control the vessel.

The arrest was made in Paris on Sunday, and the suspect was transferred from the Mediterranean port of Sète, where the ferry, named Fantastic, had been docked. The Latvian national's detention comes after a Bulgarian crew member, who was also suspected of involvement, was released without charge earlier this week.

The malware was discovered by GNV when computer systems aboard the ferry were found to have been infected with suspicious software while the ship was in port. According to French authorities, the malware was neutralized "without consequences," but the incident has raised serious concerns about the potential for foreign interference and sabotage operations in Europe.

French Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez confirmed that the investigation involves suspected foreign interference, stating, "These days one country is very often behind foreign interference." He added that investigators are looking into possible links to a wide range of countries, but did not explicitly name Russia, which has been linked to numerous sabotage operations in Europe in recent years.

The Fantastic ferry incident is the latest in a string of cyber espionage cases involving European shipping companies. In February, French authorities arrested a 22-year-old suspect linked to a breach of the French Ministry of the Interior's email servers. The suspect was charged with unauthorized access to an automated personal data processing system as part of an organized group and faces up to 10 years in prison.

The Paris prosecutor's office has stated that investigations are ongoing, and that a number of items have been seized for examination. The case highlights the growing threat of cyber espionage and sabotage operations in Europe, and underscores the need for greater collaboration between governments and industries to prevent such incidents in the future.