German general ‘shaken’ by abuse cases in elite paratroop unit

Germany's most senior general said on Wednesday he had been deeply shaken by a scandal over alleged sexual abuse, right-wing extremism and drug use at an elite paratroop unit and promised to strengthen leadership in the army.



"We do not tolerate sexualised violence, extremism, drug abuse or discrimination in the armed forces," the commander of Germany's military, General Carsten Breuer told reporters in Berlin, saying the incidents have "shaken me deeply".



"Soldiers who condone such behaviour cannot serve as officers iin our armed forces," he said, after presenting a report on the affair to the parliamentary defence committee.



The scandal emerged after female soldiers in the 26th Parachute Regiment, whose missions have included helping the evacuation of Germans and other foreign nationals from Sudan, reported numerous cases of alleged abuse to the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Armed Forces, the military ombudsman.