Germany replaces head of scandal-hit foreign intelligence agency

The German government on Wednesday confirmed that the head of Germany's Foreign Intelligence Service (BND) would be replaced two years ahead of schedule.

Gerhard Schindler, who has served at the helm of the BND for four years, will be replaced from June 1 by Bruno Kahl, current head of the privatization, industrial holdings and federal real estate division of the German Finance Ministry.

Peter Altmaier, chief of staff of German Chancellor Angela Merkel, thanked Schindler for his "long years of commendable work" as BND chief.

He said the agency "was facing major challenges in the coming years, including changes in the role of the BND in light of changing security policy challenges, organizational and legal consequences stemming from the NSA investigating committee."

BND activities have been under the spotlight since details of its extensive cooperation with the U.S. National Security Agency (NSA) became public in 2015.

A parliamentary inquiry launched after NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden began leaking information about Western surveillance programs has found that the BND used mass surveillance software provided by U.S. spies.

The software allowed the BND to spy on targets including politicians and officials in friendly nations such as France, as well as German businesses. The BND is believed to have passed on information about such targets to the NSA under intelligence sharing agreements.

Angry MPs alleged that Merkel's chancellery, which is responsible for overseeing intelligence agencies, had failed to keep the BND under control. Endit