German Troops Probe After 'Heil Hitler' And Nazi Salute Claims

Germany's military counterintelligence agency is investigating claims there could be as many as 275 suspected right-wing extremists in its ranks.

143 incidents were reported last year and 53 so far in 2017, including one soldier being heard saying "heil Hitler".

Troops were also alleged to have performed Nazi salutes and made racist remarks at colleagues from different backgrounds, according to Sky News.

The country's defence ministry revealed details of the probe in a letter to parliament, and said some of the most serious incidents had not been dealt with strongly enough.

The soldier heard saying "heil Hitler," as well as "heil our leader" and "sieg heil, comrades", did not get an early dismissal and wasn't banned from service despite the case being passed to the military prosecutor and the public prosecutor's office.

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Another soldier who made racist comments online, including demanding the death penalty for "typical foreigners", was "only disciplined".

In another case, a soldier was allowed to keep their weapon despite being disciplined for performing a Nazi salute while on a trip to Latvia.

It is illegal in Germany to make gestures associated with Adolf Hitler's regime or show Nazi symbols, such as swastikas, in public.

It comes after reports, meanwhile, that Islamic extremists may be trying to join the nation's armed forces to get military training, with the possible goal of carrying out terrorist attacks.

New security checks are due to begin in July to try to weed out potentially dangerous recruits.