The logo of the German Federal Intelligence Service (BND) | Hannibal Hanschke/AFP via Getty Images German spy agency tapped journalists’ phones, emails: report Der Spiegel saw documents from a Bundestag inquiry into the German role in US-led mass surveillance.

Germany's foreign intelligence agency spied on dozens of journalists globally for almost two decades, according to Der Spiegel.

The Federal Intelligence Service, BND, monitored more than 50 telephone numbers, fax numbers and email addresses used by reporters and editors since 1999. The surveillance targeted staff at the BBC, Reuters and the New York Times as well as reporters in India, Kuwait, Lebanon and Zimbabwe.

BND declined to comment on the allegations but told Der Spiegel that it “comments exclusively to the German government or the committee responsible in the German parliament" on the issues relating to “operative aspects of its activities.”

Der Spiegel saw documents from a Bundestag inquiry into the German role in U.S.-led mass surveillance.

The BBC said it contacted the BND but hasn't received a response.

“The BBC's mission is to bring accurate news and information to people around the world, and our journalists should be able to operate freely and safely, with full protection for their sources," the BBC said. “We call upon all governments to respect the operation of a free press.”

Belgian journalist Arnaud Zajtman, who worked in Africa for 20 years, was among those targeted.

"It isn't a good feeling to know that somebody was listening in when you're dealing with highly sensitive sources," Zajtman said.

Der Spiegel said more details about the alleged spying will be shared today.