German officials in touch with Romania on child-abuse probe

Officials in Berlin say they’re in touch with Romanian authorities over an investigation into a German-run program there in which children were allegedly abused.

Romanian authorities on Tuesday said they were investigating eight people on suspicion of trafficking and abusing German children who were allegedly “kept in a state of slavery” with Project Maramures, a program for troubled youths.

Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Adebahr said Wednesday said that the program has been operating for nearly 20 years and “no problems such as those now being reported in the media have become known to us.”

She said German diplomats have offered consular assistance.

Romanian authorities say after searches Tuesday a number of children were put into protective care. Project Maramures did not respond to requests for comment.