Deutsche Bank offices raided in money laundering probe

Deutsche Bank's offices in Frankfurt and Berlin have been raided by officials as part of an inquiry into money laundering.

In a statement, the Office of the Federal Prosecutor said it was conducting an investigation, involving the Federal Criminal Police Office, into "unknown individuals and employees" at Germany's largest bank.

It said Deutsche Bank had "maintained business relationships in the past with foreign companies" which were suspected of "having been used for money laundering purposes as part of further investigations".

A Deutsche Bank spokesperson confirmed to the BBC that searches had been carried out at its premises.

Officials declined to comment on who, at the bank, or which foreign companies are being investigated.

"No further information can be provided regarding the background of the business relationships, the transactions processed through Deutsche Bank AG, their scope, or the companies themselves," the prosecutor's office said.

German media reported that the case carries possible links to Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich, a claim his lawyers say is "entirely false and inaccurate".

A legal representative for Abramovich told the BBC on Thursday he has "no connection" to the raids on Deutsche Bank and "is neither under investigation nor suspected of any wrongdoing".

"The searches conducted this week relate solely to Deutsche Bank's alleged failure to comply with statutory reporting obligations under Germany's anti-money laundering framework and have nothing to do with Mr Abramovich whose name was only used as a way to draw media attention to the investigation.

"This is unacceptable and Mr Abramovich reserves all his rights in the matter," they added.

Abramovich was sanctioned by the UK government and the European Union in March 2022, following Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

The oligarch, who made his fortune in oil and gas, is alleged to have strong ties to Russian President Vladimir Putin, which he denies.

It is not the first time the bank's offices have been searched.

That investigation looked into whether Deutsche Bank staff helped clients set up offshore accounts to "transfer money from criminal activities", and was focused on activities between 2013 and the start of 2018.