1. Skip to content
  2. Skip to main menu
  3. Skip to more DW sites
Live TV
Latest audioLatest videos
In focus
Israel and the crisis in the Middle EastGerman coalition collapseUS election
Society

Hackers post swastikas on Mercedes-Benz Instagram account

Rebecca Staudenmaier
May 6, 2020

Carmaker Mercedes-Benz has said it is "sorry for any inconvenience and offense caused" after hackers posted Nazi imagery on its Instagram page. Other posts included images of vehicles made by competitor BMW.

https://p.dw.com/p/3bpli
Screens showing the hacked account
Image: picture-alliance/dpa/Revierfoto

The German-language Instagram account of carmaker Mercedes-Benz fell victim to hackers on Tuesday, the company confirmed.

Unidentified hackers took over the company's Instagram profile on Tuesday evening, Mercedes-Benz told news agency DPA.

Read more: Merkel, car industry heads hold coronavirus video conference

The company said it quickly responded to the hack and said further legal steps could be taken. Shortly after the incident, Mercedes-Benz took down its German-language Instagram account.

Screenshots of the company's hacked profile circulated online, including images of the Nazi Swastika flag. The hacked account also promoted cars from competitor BMW.

The hackers also posted several links in the account's description, calling on users to "donate to starving people.

Replying to confused Twitter users who shared the screenshots, Mercedes-Benz said it was "sorry for any inconvenience and offense caused.

Every evening, DW sends out a selection of the day's news and features. Sign up here.

 

Skip next section Explore more

Explore more

Richard Wagner's anti-Semitic letter

Anti-Semitic Richard Wagner letter up for sale in Israel

Anti-Semitic Richard Wagner letter up for sale in Israel

An anti-Semitic letter from Hitler's favorite composer is being auctioned in Israel."Wagner would roll over in his grave" if he knew that a bearded Jew in Jerusalem would profit from his letter, the auctioneer said. (22.04.2018)
HistoryApril 22, 2018
Berlin Oranienburger Straße Synagogue

New York Jews see Germany with mixed feelings

New York Jews see Germany with mixed feelings

For many New York Jews, the Holocaust can not be forgiven and visiting the country of the perpatrators is unthinkable. But thanks to a program, young Jews are going to Germany and returning with some surprising findings. (22.01.2015)
ReligionJanuary 22, 2015
A Volkswagen plant in Wolfsburg

Coronavirus compounds problems for German carmakers

Coronavirus compounds problems for German carmakers

German carmakers are shuttering their European plants as the virus takes a toll on demand and supply chains. The crisis — the biggest the industry has seen since the World War II — could not have come at a worse time. (19.03.2020)
BusinessMarch 19, 2020
Show more stories