BERLIN – Germany's defense minister says a senior official supported an arms manufacturer's bid to get the country's military intelligence service to probe leaks concerning the alleged shortcomings of its assault rifle — a weapon that she has since ordered replaced.
Ursula von der Leyen's statement Thursday comes amid opposition calls for a parliamentary inquiry into the government's handling of problems with the G-36 rifle. It follows reports by Der Spiegel and Stern magazines that manufacturer Heckler & Koch and a senior ministry official sought to have the intelligence agency take action against the leaks.
Von der Leyen said it was "very strange" that Heckler & Koch approached the agency in 2013 and "completely unacceptable" that the senior official backed the initiative, which the intelligence agency rebuffed. He has since been removed.
Fox News' "Antisemitism Exposed" newsletter brings you stories on the rising anti-Jewish prejudice across the U.S. and the world.