Germany’s spy chief rejects Angela Merkel’s claim neo-Nazis are carrying out ‘foreigner hunts’ in revenge for stabbing of German man
A viral video appears to show foreigners being chased in the city of Chemnitz where a German national was stabbed to death last month
GERMANY's spy chief rejected claims that migrants are being “hunted” by neo-Nazi gangs - directly undermining Chancellor Angela Merkel.
Footage posted online appears to show foreigners being chased in the eastern city of Chemnitz where a German man was stabbed to death last month.
Two immigrants were arrested following the August 26 killing which has sparked violent right-wing protests in the country with many extremists using the illegal Nazi salute.
While speaking about the viral video, Merkel said the images “very clearly” showed the "hate and ... the persecution of innocent people" while adding that "hate in the streets" has no place in the country.
Her spokesman Steffen Seibert, while slamming the mob violence at the demonstrations, spoke of protesters "hunting down" foreigners.
But Hans-Georg Maassen, head of the BfV domestic intelligence agency, refuted those claims saying there is “no reliable information” on a so-called "hunt on foreigners".
He told Bild newspaper: "I share the scepticism about media reports on right-wing extremists hunting down people in Chemnitz.
"The domestic intelligence agency has no reliable information about such hunts taking place."
Maassen said there was no evidence that a video circulating on the internet was authentic.
He added: "Based on my cautious assessment, there are good reasons to believe that it amounts to intentional misinformation, possibly to divert the public's attention from the murder in Chemnitz."
Interior Minister Horst Seehofer told a news conference he had no reason to doubt Maassen's assessment, adding it was important that security authorities knew politicians backed their work.
Seehofer said Germany would continue to investigate events in Chemnitz.
Asked if he had confidence in Maassen, Seehofer said: "Yes".
Rolland Woeller, interior minister of the state of Saxony, where Chemnitz is located, also supported Maassen.
He told broadcaster MDR: "The chief public prosecutor in Saxony also has no knowledge of witch hunts."
But a union representing German journalists urged Maassen to withdraw his comments, saying reports from colleagues in Chemnitz proved people had been hunted down and attacked.
"If Maassen can't prove his comments beyond doubt, he is not suitable for such a senior office and should be dismissed as quickly as possible," the union said in a statement.
Katrin Goering-Eckardt, leader of the Green Party, said Maassen's decision to focus on the video rather than some protesters performing the illegal Hitler salute in Chemnitz showed he was no longer fit for his job.
Merkel on Thursday accused the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party of using violent protests over the stabbing to stir up ethnic tension.
We pay for your stories! Do you have a story for The Sun Online news team? Email us at tips@the-sun.co.uk or call 0207 782 4368. You can WhatsApp us on 07810 791 502. We pay for videos too. Click here to upload yours