The head of Germany’s BND foreign intelligence agency is being pushed out of his job, government sources have said, in a surprise move that comes at a time when Germany faces a growing threat from Islamic militants. It was not immediately clear why Gerhard Schindler, who has led Germany’s version of the US Central Intelligence Agency since 2012, was being removed two years before he reaches retirement age. Schindler, 63, came under pressure a year ago when it emerged that the BND had gone against German interests and spied on European partners at the request of the US National Security Agency. But he appeared to have weathered that scandal after promising to centralise control over BND field offices, which he admitted had taken on a “life of their own”. Schindler’s dismissal comes after Islamic State militant attacks in Brussels last month and in Paris last November raised questions about European intelligence cooperation. Germany, which has not suffered a major attack by Islamic militants on its soil, is supplying weapons and logistical support to local forces fighting the militant group in Syria and Iraq and has been declared a primary target. Neither the German government nor the BND was immediately available to comment on Schindler’s departure. But chancellor Angela Merkel’s chief of staff, Peter Altmaier, had earlier invited reporters for a briefing on Wednesday. German daily Süddeutsche Zeitung and broadcasters NDR and WDR first reported that Schindler would be removed. They said he was due to be replaced by Bruno Kahl, a finance ministry official who is said to be a close ally of finance minister Wolfgang Schäuble. Earlier this month, the BND celebrated its 60th anniversary. Long based in Pullach in southern Germany, it is due to move into brand new headquarters in central Berlin next year.
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.