BND spy agency 'monitored German businesses for US'

BERLIN 

Germany’s BND foreign intelligence agency spied on German companies for its U.S. counterpart the National Security Agency (NSA), German media reported on Saturday.

A BND employee, who had previously testified before the parliamentary committee investigating NSA activities in Germany, told Der Speigel the agency had monitored German business executives from companies such as Mercedes, Deutsche Bank, mobile phone operator Debitel and finance firm Clearstream.

A German metal dealer who traded between Russia and Germany could have been monitored, the news magazine reported.

A 2002 cooperation agreement between the BND and the NSA allowed tapping telephone and internet communications in conflict regions, such as Afghanistan and Somalia, from the Bad Aibling station in Bavaria, according to officials.

But reports in April revealed the U.S. agency had also monitored European politicians, institutions and companies. The German government has ordered an inquiry into the claims.