Germany kicks out US intelligence chief in Berlin as spying row escalates
Row over alleged American snooping escalates with the expulsion of intelligence boss in Berlin
Germany yesterday expelled the US secret services station chief in Berlin in an escalating row over alleged American spying against its long-time European ally.
The worst diplomatic rift in years comes after two suspected US spy cases were uncovered in less than a week in Germany, where anger still simmers over the NSA surveillance scandal sparked by fugitive intelligence contractor Edward Snowden.
"The representative of the US intelligence services at the embassy of the United States of America has been told to leave Germany," government spokesman Steffen Seibert said.
The demand was based on two probes by German prosecutors of suspected US spying "as well as outstanding questions over the last several months about the activities of the US secret services in Germany".
"The government takes these developments very seriously," Seibert added.
The White House refused to comment, but the US embassy in Berlin and the National Security Council both said it was "essential" that cooperation continued on security matters as "it keeps Germans and Americans safe".
German Chancellor Angela Merkel - whose mobile phone was in the past targeted by the US National Security Agency (NSA) - pointedly reminded the US that security "depends on trust" between allies.