Gerhard Schindler, the head of the country’s BND foreign intelligence agency, has been removed from his post. The surprise news comes at a time when fears are rising over the growing threat from ISIS and extremists more generally. Schindler faced pressure last year after it emerged that the BND had acted on a request from the Paris to spy on European partners. Following this, Schindler promised to exert stronger control over BND field offices, which he argued had acted on their own. The BND has yet to comment on the situation, but local media has reported that Bruno Kahl is lined up to replace Schindler. Kahl is a finance ministry official and close ally of Finance Minister Wolfgang Schäuble.
Gerhard Schindler, the head of the country’s BND foreign intelligence agency, has been removed from his post. The surprise news comes at a time when fears are rising over the growing threat from ISIS and extremists more generally. Schindler faced pressure last year after it emerged that the BND had acted on a request from the US to spy on European partners. Following this, Schindler promised to exert stronger control over BND field offices, which he argued had acted on their own. The BND has yet to comment on the situation, but local media has reported that Bruno Kahl is lined up to replace Schindler. Kahl is a finance ministry official and close ally of Finance Minister Wolfgang Schäuble.