Blueprints for New German Spy Agency Headquarters Possibly Leaked

The German Federal Intelligence Service (BND) is facing serious embarrassment if a report about blueprints of its future headquarters disappearing proves to be true.

The alleged security breach was reported by the German-language Focus magazine last week. The publication quotes an unnamed intelligence official as source.

The plans said to have disappeared contain potentially sensitive details about the building like its alarm systems, anti-terrorism installations, emergency exists, cable router or sewers.

If this information lands in the wrong hands in can pose serious security risks to the German foreign intelligence agency.

"It has not yet been possible to verify the authenticity of the reports, but an investigation was launched into the matter on Friday," government spokesman Steffen Seibert told journalists on Friday.

The government faces serious criticism over the blunder because, If the plans did indeed disappear, modifications that cost millions of euros will have to be made; and not even then will the risks be entirely mitigated.

Wolfgang Neskovic, an opposition left wing MP, said the incident "casts doubt over the professionalism of the BND," according to The Telegraph. The primary suspects at this point are the contractors.

The new building is being constructed in Berlin and is scheduled for completion in 2014. Construction work began in 2006 and the costs are estimated at 1.6 billion euros ($2.3bn).

The BND is currently based in Pullach, near Munich. The decision to move its headquarters to Berlin was taken after the German re-unification. The agency deals with the gathering of both military and civil intelligence and has an additional 300 offices in Germany and other countries.

Last month, the German government launched its new National Cyber-Defense Center (Nationale Cyber-Abwehrzentrum), a joint effort between the Federal Office for Information Security (BSI), the Federal Office for Civil Protection and Disaster Assistance (BKK) and the Federal Office for Protection of the Constitution (BFV).