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Bundesnachrichtendienst, BND

The Federal Intelligence Service, BND, is the foreign intelligence agency of Germany. It alerts the German government to threats to German interests from abroad.

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All Content on this topic

A gate at the headquarters of Germany's BND intelligence service in Berlin

A gate at the headquarters of Germany's BND intelligence service in Berlin

German intel officer denies spying for Russia

Former intelligence agent says prosecutors have it backward — he was not spying for Moscow but recruiting for Berlin.

Russian security forces seen outside Moscow's Crocus City Hall concert venue

Russian security forces seen outside Moscow's Crocus City Hall concert venue

Moscow attack: Why intelligence agencies share information

When it comes to fighting terrorism, intelligence agencies are surprisingly generous about sharing information.

A mole coming out into the daylight

A mole coming out into the daylight

German politicians hail capture of suspected Russian 'mole'

The capture of an alleged Russian spy in Germany's intelligence agencies has been called a "wake-up call."

The headquarters of Germany's foreign intelligence agency, the BND

The headquarters of Germany's foreign intelligence agency, the BND

Suspected Russian spy arrested in German intelligence agency

An employee of the German intelligence agency the BND has been arrested on suspicion of treason.

Surveillance cameras and loud speakers adorned with a Chinese flag

Surveillance cameras and loud speakers adorned with a Chinese flag

China spying on Germany, say intelligence chiefs

They also advised against handing Beijing too much leverage when it comes to cooperation and infrastructure.

A German-language wanted poster for Jan Marsalek at an immigration-control checkpoint

A German-language wanted poster for Jan Marsalek at an immigration-control checkpoint

Wanted Wirecard executive reportedly hiding in Moscow

Russia's secret service reportedly told German officials of Jan Marsalek's location. Agents have yet to question him.

Taliban fighter patrol in Kundus

Taliban fighter patrol in Kundus

Afghanistan: Debacle for Germany's intelligence services

Germany's Federal Intelligence Service failed to anticipate the speed with which the Taliban would capture Kabul. Why?

Silhouette of soldier with machine gun and barbed wire

Silhouette of soldier with machine gun and barbed wire

German spy chief warns of Islamic State's strength

The head of Germany's foreign intelligence agency has warned that the Islamic State is just as strong as it ever was.

Silhouette of a mysterious man in a vintage style wide brimmed hat

Silhouette of a mysterious man in a vintage style wide brimmed hat

Germany charges man with spying for China

The political scientist was recruited by Chinese intelligence on a lecture trip to Shanghai in 2010, authorities say.

Protester holding up a sigh reading "Big Data? Big Brother!"

Protester holding up a sigh reading "Big Data? Big Brother!"

Big brother:  Germany's BND under pressure

The BND screens hundreds of millions of emails. The European Court of Human Rights is now looking into this practice.

Visitor center at Germany's spy HQ

Visitor center at Germany's spy HQ

Coronavirus a 'stress test' for politics: German spy chiefs

The heads of the three intelligence agencies also told lawmakers far-right extremism is the greatest threat to Germany.

Bundespräsident besucht Bundesnachrichtendienst

Bundespräsident besucht Bundesnachrichtendienst

BND can't spy on foreigners outside Germany

The long-awaited ruling stated that internet surveillance of foreigners abroad violates the freedom of the press.

DW Sendung Made in Germany BND

DW Sendung Made in Germany BND

Hacking for Germany

Germany's intelligence service hires hackers to work on cybersecurity. We found one willing to talk!

Symbolbild | Geheimdienst

Symbolbild | Geheimdienst

How did US and Germany spy on world leaders?

Starting in the 1970s, Germany's BND and the US's CIA used a Swiss front company to spy on world leaders for decades.

Report: US, Germany spied on countries via Swiss firm

Western intelligence seized top secret information on global powers through their hidden control of an encryption firm.

BND headquarters in Berlin

BND headquarters in Berlin

German foreign spying law tested at top court

Journalists' organizations have begun their legal challenge to German spying operations abroad at Germany's top court.

Looking down on the floor of a new exhibit at BND HQ in Berlin

Looking down on the floor of a new exhibit at BND HQ in Berlin

Behind the scenes of Germany's BND

In an effort to promote openness, Germany's foreign intelligence service has opened an exhibit at its new Berlin HQ.

Berlin Neubau Bundesnachrichtendienste Berlin

Berlin Neubau Bundesnachrichtendienste Berlin

German spy agency must be more transparent, says court

Germany's foreign intelligence agency must now disclose the contents of its briefing sessions with journalists.

German intelligence agency recruitment ad

German intelligence agency recruitment ad

License to hack: Germany looks to boost cyberops

Global conflicts are spilling into the virtual sphere. So why is Germany hesitant to join the digital arms race?

Monolith at the entrance to the new spy HQ in Berlin

Monolith at the entrance to the new spy HQ in Berlin

Inside Germany's new spy HQ

The German Intelligence Agency has relocated to its new base in the capital after decades in the provinces.

Angela Merkel at the new BND headquarters

Angela Merkel at the new BND headquarters

Germany opens huge new spy HQ in Berlin

For decades, the German Intelligence Agency was hidden in the countryside. Now it has finally arrived in the capital.

Martin Behrens (Ronald Zehrfeld) in "Das Ende der Wahrheit"

Martin Behrens (Ronald Zehrfeld) in "Das Ende der Wahrheit"

Politics, mercenaries and conspiracies

At the premiere of "Blame Game," DW spoke with director Philipp Leinemann about spying and secret CIA operations.

Chile gedenkt Opfer der Militärdiktatur

Chile gedenkt Opfer der Militärdiktatur

Germany cagey on spy cooperation in Pinochet's Chile

The German Foreign Ministry has refused to shed light on the BND's cooperation with the CIA in Augusto Pinochet's Chile.

Gudrun Burwitz in 2011

Gudrun Burwitz in 2011

BND employed Himmler's daughter

The revelation shines further light on the German intelligence agency's intertwined past with ex-Nazis.

A general view shows an overcast sky in Vienna

A general view shows an overcast sky in Vienna

Austria wants answers on German spying

Vienna has demanded an explanation from Berlin over reports that the BND spied on nearly 2,000 targets in Austria.

Berlin terrorist attack 2016

Berlin terrorist attack 2016

German govt blocking Amri investigation: MPs

German MPs investigating the case of Anis Amri have decided to go to court to get access to intelligence documents.

A man holding a placard with the words Big data, big brother

A man holding a placard with the words Big data, big brother

Germany's BND in court over 'illegal' data siphoning

Has a German intelligence agency been breaking the law as the world's largest internet exchange claims?

North Korea's latest missile rolls through Pyongyang during a military parade.

North Korea's latest missile rolls through Pyongyang during a military parade.

Germany: North Korean rockets can hit Europe

The disclosure came in a meeting the BND intelligence agency held with members of the Bundestag last week, media report.

Hans Modrow

Hans Modrow

Ex-East German leader wants access to West's files

More than 25 years after the Stasi files were opened, the GDR's last premier wants to see what the West knew about him.

Fighters from rebel factions in Damascus prepare their ammunition

Fighters from rebel factions in Damascus prepare their ammunition

German intelligence targeting returning jihadis - report

Germany's secret service has reportedly joined a US-led unit gathering intel on jihadis returning from the Middle East.

German national symbol

German national symbol

Journalists take German spy law to court

Press groups have argued Germany surveillance laws permit the "virtually unrestricted" monitoring of foreign reporters.

IS flag in Gornja Maoca, Bosnia

IS flag in Gornja Maoca, Bosnia

Islamism in the Balkans: What's behind it?

Is the German government playing down the rise of Islamic extremism, and Saudi influence, in the western Balkans?

Bosnien und Herzegovina - Neue Moschee in Ilidza

Bosnien und Herzegovina - Neue Moschee in Ilidza

German BND sets its sights on the Balkans

Germany's intelligence agency BND is increasingly focusing on the Balkans and especially Muslim-majority Bosnia.

Zapad exercises

Zapad exercises

German spy chief warns against Russian ambition

Germany's top spy, Bruno Kahl, has delivered a dramatic warning about Russia's military ambitions in the European Union.

GPS Satellit

GPS Satellit

German intelligence agency gets spy satellite funds

Hundreds of millions of euros have been earmarked for the Federal Intelligence Service to get its own presence in space.

NSA headquarters in Fort Meade, Maryland

NSA headquarters in Fort Meade, Maryland

German prosecutors find no proof of NSA spying

Germany has decided against launching a formal inquiry into accusations of NSA espionage in the country.

German spy chiefs in the committee

German spy chiefs in the committee

German lawmakers to quiz intelligence chiefs

For the first time in Germany, top intelligence officials will answer lawmakers' questions in public.

Deutschland Sicherheit Sylvester

Deutschland Sicherheit Sylvester

Preventing terrorism: What powers do German police have?

In the wake of deadly attacks across Europe, Germany has tightened surveillance and anti-terror legislation.

Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel with his Qatari counterpart, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani, in Doha

Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel with his Qatari counterpart, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani, in Doha

German intelligence to help in Qatar crisis

Sigmar Gabriel says Germany's intelligence service will help shed light on terror allegations against Qatar.

Afghan municipality workers sweep a road outside the German embassy after a blast in Kabul, Afghanistan

Afghan municipality workers sweep a road outside the German embassy after a blast in Kabul, Afghanistan

Germany's Kabul embassy knew bomb was coming

The Kabul embassy was warned of an imminent attack days before it was hit by a massive truck bomb, reports say.

Marcel Fürstenau

Marcel Fürstenau

Spying made easy

Marcel Fürstenau

Germany's BND foreign intelligence service was hardly innocent in the NSA spying scandal.

USA White House Washington DC

USA White House Washington DC

German intelligence 'spied on White House'

Newly revealed documents show German intelligence spied on White House personnel for years, according to a news report.

Interpol-Zentrale in Lyon

Interpol-Zentrale in Lyon

German intelligence agency 'spied on Interpol'

The news magazine "Spiegel" has reported that Germany's BND spied, among other things, on Interpol's HQ in France.

Germany's young hacker recruits

Germany's foreign intelligence agency has directed a recruitment campaign for digital forensics analysts.

A surveillance camera

A surveillance camera

Report: German intel spied on journalists

The German Intelligence Agency has spied on journalists from the BBC and 'The New York Times,' reported 'Der Spiegel.'

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Merkel to NSA inquiry committee: Did not know anything

Merkel defended her stance that "spying among friends" is unacceptable and answered questions regarding her own phone.

Deutschland Merkel vor dem NSA Untersuchungsausschuss

Deutschland Merkel vor dem NSA Untersuchungsausschuss

NSA inquiry committee under pressure

The chancellor will be probably the last witness to testify before the inquiry committee investigating the NSA scandal.

Russland Präsident Vladimir Putin

Russland Präsident Vladimir Putin

'No evidence of Putin disinformation campaign'

Spies have found no evidence that Moscow is trying to manipulate German public opinion, at least not directly.

Zentrale des Bundesnachrichtendienstes (BND)

Zentrale des Bundesnachrichtendienstes (BND)

German spies get new mission plan

Germany's equivalent of the CIA, the BND, has been given a new set of tasks, three years too late.

Filmszene Kundschafter des Friedens

Filmszene Kundschafter des Friedens

"Kundschafter des Friedens"

Spy comedy with four East German acting legends as former secret agents on a delicate mission.