Angela Merkel says ‘hard evidence’ she was target of Russian hackers

Der Spiegel magazine reported last week that Russia's GRU military intelligence service appeared to have got hold of many emails from Merkel's constituency office in 2015

German Chancellor Angela Merkel has cited 'hard evidence' that she was the target of Russian hacking.

Der Spiegel magazine reported last week that Russia's GRU military intelligence service appeared to have got hold of many emails from Merkel's constituency office in a 2015 hack attack on Germany's parliament.

Moscow has denied previous allegations of hacking abroad.

Ms Merkel said she "will keep trying to improve ties with Russia", but admitted the hacking attack did not make Germany's efforts any easier.

"I will strive for good relations with Russia because I think there is every reason to continue our diplomatic efforts but it doesn't make it easier," she told told the Bundestag lower house of parliament when asked about the hack.

The German government had no immediate comment when Der Spiegel published its report on the alleged hacking. The magazine said federal criminal police and the federal cyber agency had partially reconstructed the attack and found that two email inboxes from Merkel’s office had been targeted.

The Bundestag discovered its systems had been hacked in May 2015, and concluded that the intrusions had been taking place since at least the beginning of the year, reported Reuters. They could not determine what information had been taken.

On 5 May, Germany issued an arrest warrant for a suspected Russian military intelligence officer who is alleged to have carried out the 2015 hackings, reported the Süddeutsche Zeitung newspaper.

The 29-year-old suspect, Dmitry Badin, is also one of 12 Russian officers wanted in the US on suspicion of interfering with the 2016 presidential elections.

According to a public wanted notice by the FBI, the group is charged with a hacking conspiracy, in which they stole documents and "staged releases of the stolen documents to interfere with the 2016 US presidential election".

Additional reporting by agencies