An international panel of historians has strongly criticised the behaviour of the Swiss National Bank in handling gold from Nazi Germany during the Second World War.

A report by the panel says the bank made no attempt to find out whether the gold it was buying had been looted from occupied countries or from individual holocaust victims.

The report confirms that at least one consignment did come from holocaust victims, but it says there is no evidence the bank knew of its origin.

In a statement, the Swiss national Bank said it profoundly regretted that it may have bought such gold unintentionally.

The Swiss banks are still discussing the question of compensating victims of Nazi persecution who deposited money with them and never recovered it.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service
 

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