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2nd LD Writhru: Investigators raid Volkswagen offices

Xinhua, October 8, 2015 Adjust font size:

Investigators raided headquarters of German automaker Volkswagen in Wolfsburg and offices in other places on Thursday, said German public prosecution office in Braunschweig.

Investigators searched the offices for "documents and data carriers that can provide information on the exact procedure of those involved in the manipulation of the exhaust emissions of diesel vehicles," said the prosecution office in a statement.

The search was carried out by three prosecutors with the help of the Crime Investigation Office in Lower Saxony State where sits Volkswagen's headquarters, according to the statement.

The prosecution office launched a probe into Volkswagen's emission scandal in late September after receiving several criminal complaints from citizens.

Volkswagen installed software in its diesel vehicle engines which would cheat emission tests. The scandal involved 11 million diesel cars around the world and forced the company to review all its investment plans in order to prepare for penalties of up to 18 billion U.S. dollars in the United States and expected massive compensation claims from its customers.

German Economy Minister Sigmar Gabriel said earlier on Thursday that Volkswagen should clear up the responsible people for the scandal and warned that workers of the automaker could not pay the price for "criminal behavior of managers." Endit