Merkel Phone Hacking Accusations Prompt German Investigation

Germany’s top prosecutor will start a formal investigation into whether U.S. intelligence agents tapped Chancellor Angela Merkel’s mobile phone, potentially heightening tensions between the two countries over spying.

The Federal Prosecutor’s office in Karlsruhe said it had uncovered sufficient initial evidence to probe whether U.S. spies had violated German law. A second preliminary inquiry into mass surveillance by U.S. and British intelligence didn’t yield enough proof to warrant a probe, the prosecutor said.