German federal prosecutor opens investigation of alleged NSA surveillance of Merkel’s phone

BERLIN – Germany’s chief federal prosecutor says he has opened an investigation into the alleged monitoring of Chancellor Angela Merkel’s cellphone by the U.S. National Security Agency.

Prosecutor Harald Range has been mulling for months whether to open a formal probe of the Merkel allegations, which cooled relations between Berlin and Washington.

Range’s office said Wednesday he has decided to proceed with an investigation into persons unknown regarding Merkel’s phone, a move that is potentially delicate diplomatically.

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