More data reported in Liechtenstein probe

BERLIN (Reuters) - Authorities investigating tax evasion by Germans using Liechtenstein banks are now in possession of four disks containing bank data which implicate people in other countries, a newspaper reported on Saturday.

Bank customers from Austria, Spain and France would be implicated by the data, German daily Sueddeutsche Zeitung reported, citing unnamed government officials in the western state of North Rhine Westphalia.

"In Austria, in particular, there are going to be a couple of surprises," the newspaper quoted an observer to the probe as saying. "This collection of data is a real treasure trove."

The affair came to light last month when, according to media reports, the BND intelligence service, with a green light from Berlin, paid an informant over 4 million euros (3.1 million pounds) for a disk containing bank data on more than 1,000 suspected tax dodgers.

German authorities said earlier this month they had received a new offer of confidential information on accounts held in Liechtenstein but did not disclose who was behind the offer.

German broadcaster ARD said the offer came from a man who had previously blackmailed the Liechtensteinische Landesbank (LLB). The information was on a disk containing details of over 2,000 client accounts worth more than 4 billion euros it said.

Der Spiegel magazine said on Saturday, however, state prosecutors in the northern city of Rostock are likely to prevent the disk being be used in the probe as it comes from a blackmailer. The report did not give details on its sources.

The probe has already led to the resignation of the chief executive of mail group Deutsche Post.

International pressure has intensified on Liechtenstein to lift the cloak of secrecy from its banks. The principality has defended its secrecy rules and says it is cooperating with other countries.

(Reporting by Sylvia Westall, editing by Mary Gabriel)