German parliament panel faults spy agency over snooping on targets in allied countries

The head of a German parliamentary committee says an investigation has concluded that the country's intelligence agency improperly spied on targets in other European Union and NATO countries.

The committee that oversees the intelligence service set up a task force in October to examine suspicions that the BND intelligence agency improperly snooped on allies in the past.

News agency dpa reported that committee chairman Andre Hahn said Wednesday provisional findings show the BND had spied on a number of targets that weren't in line with its mandate and the law. He said he wasn't allowed to identify specific targets.

The government stressed its support for the investigation and pointed to changes it ordered at the BND.