Germany Is Accused of Helping NSA Spy on European Allies

Chancellor Angela Merkel’s government is fending off allegations that the German secret service helped the United States to spy on European partners and companies.

The German news media has reported that the country’s domestic intelligence agency, known by its German initials, BND, gathered information on European companies at the behest of the United States National Security Agency for years, citing confidential documents and government experts. The German news media have further said that the Merkel government knew of cooperation between the BND and the American spy services, but withheld that information from a parliamentary committee assigned to investigate the affair.