Austria seeks clarification from Germany over spy reports

Austria has sought for clarification from neighbouring Germany on allegations that German intelligence agents snooped on nearly 2,000 targets for several years in the Alpine nation, including embassies and ministries.

According to several media reports, German Federal Intelligence Service (BND) conducted surveillance on around 2,000 targets at political institutions, international organizations, banks; companies and weapons producers allege Austria's daily Der Standard and weekly Profil.

The two media outlets said the information was provided to them by a German source.

"The scale of the surveillance was enormous. We want to have certainty that (the surveillance) ended, and if data were saved, our request is of course for it to be deleted," Deutsche Welle quoted Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz, as saying.

"Our wish is, of course, to know who was monitored when the surveillance was ended, and of course we want to have certainty that it was stopped," he added.

Top Austrian institutions, including the office of Austrian Federal Chancellor, its Defense and Foreign Ministries, and the Austrian Chamber of Economics were reportedly among the targets of the German surveillance. BND also targeted at least 75 foreign embassies, as well as other diplomatic missions, the report claims.

"We are confident that Germany is willing to clarify the allegations and create transparency," Kurz stated.

On Saturday, Austrian President Alexander Van der Bellen underscored, "spying among friendly states is not just unusual and unwanted, and it's unacceptable..