Germany to make reforms to army

German Defence Minister Ursula von der Leyen yesterday said she would respond to the discovery of far right sympathisers in the German army with reforms, including revising one of the force's post-Nazi era founding principles.

German police on Tuesday detained a second soldier suspected of involvement in what prosecutors believe was a plan by a military officer and a student, both in custody, to carry out an "extremist" attack and blame it on migrants.

Von der Leyen, under fire for her handling of the growing scandal, told reporters she would inform a special session of the parliamentary defence committee about the investigation into the case and far right sympathies within the military.

She said the ministry would clarify its "Traditionserlass," a policy last updated in 1982 that gives a differentiated view of how troops are to treat and view the legacy of the German military. Von der Leyen, whose post includes the role of commander in chief of Germany's armed forces, is a close ally of Chancellor Angela Merkel who is gearing up for a national election in five months' time.