The NSA did not just tap German chancellor Angela Merkel’s phone but also listened in on finance, economy, agriculture and other ministers

This article is more than 5 years old

This article is more than 5 years old

The United States did not just tap chancellor Angela Merkel’s phone but also eavesdropped on several of her ministers, the German daily Sueddeutsche Zeitung has reported, citing documents from WikiLeaks.

German-US relations were badly strained after fugitive US intelligence contractor Edward Snowden in 2013 revealed widespread US foreign surveillance, although a probe into the alleged tapping of Merkel’s mobile phone was dropped in June over a lack of evidence.

But according to the latest revelations the US National Security Agency did not limit its snooping activities to Merkel and showed particular interest in the activities of the ministries of finance, economy and agriculture, Sueddeutsche Zeitung reported.

It said WikiLeaks had shown it a list of 69 phone numbers belonging to ministers and senior officials that were reportedly targeted. The list appears to date back to between 2010 and 2012.

The current economy minister and vice-chancellor, Sigmar Gabriel, was among those spied on by the NSA, the report said, although it noted he had been in the opposition at the time.

The list also features the number of former finance minister Oskar Lafontaine, who left the job in 1999. But the number was “still active” according to Sueddeutsche Zeitung, ringing through to the secretariat of the current finance minister, Wolfgang Schaeuble.

While Snowden alleged US spying on many European governments, his disclosures triggered particular anger in Germany where bitterness lingers over mass state spying on citizens by the Stasi secret police in former communist East Germany where Merkel grew up.

Merkel herself phoned the US president, Barack Obama, over the revelations and in public told Germany’s traditional post-war ally and Nato partner that “spying between friends just isn’t on”.

Washington appeared to confirm her phone had previously been tapped when US officials said the cellphone was “no longer” a target.